Drafter
Clerk 09/12/2012
Title
A MOTION regarding cyberbullying in unincorporated King County.
Body
WHEREAS, Bill Belsey, a global leader in child bullying advocacy, describes cyberbullying as involving the use of information and communication technologies to support deliberate, repeated and hostile behavior by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others, and
WHEREAS, a cyber predator is an individual who uses information and communication technologies, including social media, to hunt for potential victims to take advantage of in any way, including sexually, emotionally, psychologically or financially, and
WHEREAS, the online safety of the people of King County is prioritized in the King County Strategic Plan, Justice and Safety objective of keeping people safe in their homes and communities, and
WHEREAS. cyberbullying and cyber predators have been identified by law enforcement agencies and child advocacy organizations throughout the country as issues of critical importance, and
WHEREAS, the King County sheriff's office is responsible for investigating all crimes, including those circumstances where cyberbullying becomes potential criminal activity;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The sheriff is requested to transmit a report on cyberbullying in unincorporated King County in the form of a paper original and an electronic copy filed with the clerk of the council, who shall retain the original and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers by October 19, 2012. The report should include:
A. The annual number and status of investigations that are associated with cyberbullying, including those involving cyber predators, in unincorporated King County and as compared to national trends;
B. The sheriff's approach toward prevention and investigation of cyberbullying; and C. Additional resources, such as for training, that could reasonably be applied to address and support the scale of cyberbullying in unicorpora...

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