Sponsored Content: Smartphones have become a part of everyday life. For parents and children, they can be very helpful, allowing children to easily communicate with parents and let them know where they are at any given time. However, they can also be used to victimize children. Maryland State Police have been finding this as they make their way through a ten-month backlog of files that include digital evidence of child abuse.
One of the most shocking cases was that of Deonte Carraway and Carlos Bell, teaching assistants in Prince George’s and Charles counties, respectively. Bell had his phone seized but it was six months before investigators could analyze the data from that phone. When it finally was, child pornography was found, including images of Bell sexually assaulting children. In the six-month waiting period, Bell had victimized another eight children.
However, new funding may change the process. Under Alicia’s Law, passed in 2016, the state will receive $2 million to investigate and prevent child abuse. This will be divided up between a number of government agencies that are involved with investigating and prosecuting child abuse cases
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