Child safety software distributed

The Ventura County District Attorney's Office will begin countywide distribution of computer software called ComputerCop to help parents keep children safe from predators and harmful materials on the Internet.

The Ventura County District Attorney's Office is committed to the safety of children and has implemented the Protecting Our Children program to help parents and other concerned adults safeguard the Internet activities of young people. Protecting Our Children gives parents and other adults tools to help protect children from online predators and helps prevent children from being lured into various Internet crimes.

ComputerCop provides an easy way for parents to determine what their children might be viewing on the home computer and to assess their children's exposure to objectionable or dangerous material. This software program will run automatically from the CD drive, scanning for potentially objectionable images and text, drawing on its database of nearly 1,000 red-flagged words and phrases associated with pornography, drugs, violence, hate crimes and gambling.

ComputerCop will be provided to Ventura County Parent Teacher Organizations for use and limited distribution. Those interested in obtaining a copy of the program may purchase one for $5.40 at the District Attorney's Office reception counter in the Hall of Justice, or by mail from Office of the District Attorney, Hall of Justice, Suite 314, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura, CA 93009, Attention: Computer Cop Program. Checks should be made payable to "County of Ventura," and a self-addressed, stamped envelope with 78 cents postage should be included.