WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice will host the 2008 Project Safe Childhood (PSC) National Conference in Columbus, Ohio, from September 23 through September 26. The conference, which will feature efforts to protect children from online predators through the Department’s PSC initiative, is intended to strengthen relationships across agencies and jurisdictions, especially among federal law enforcement and regional Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces.
Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey will present the keynote address, and other Justice Department senior officials will also address the conference. Local, state, and federal law enforcement; prosecutors; and community partners will discuss ways to implement best practices in protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation.
Attorney General Mukasey will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 8:30 A.M. EDT in the Regency Ballroom at the Hyatt Regency Columbus. The opening session of the conference will be open to the media.
LOCATION: Regency Ballroom
Hyatt Regency Columbus
350 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215
(614) 463-1234
MEDIA LOGISTICS:
· All media will need to bring government issued ID and press credentials and should allow time for on-site security procedures.
· Upon arrival, media should register in the Harding Room on the First Floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Media can obtain information about the press events and general information on the Conference in the Harding Room between Tuesday, September 23 and Friday, September 26.
Tuesday, September 23: 7:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.*
Wednesday, September 24: 8:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Thursday, September 25: 8:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.
Friday, September 26: 8:30 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
*NOTE: The conference is closed to the press with the exception of the opening plenary session on Tuesday. Interested members of the media may pick up information regarding PSC in the press room during press room open hours on all days of the conference.
· Media with inquiries about the PSC program should contact Carrie Nelson of the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs at (202) 514-1155. Inquiries regarding conference logistics should be direct to Melissa Middlesworth of the Department of Justice’s Office of Public Affairs at (202) 532-5761.
SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC EVENTS:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Opening Ceremony
Who: Michael B. Mukasey, Attorney General of the United States
Kevin O’Connor, Associate Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney Gregory G. Lockhart, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of
Ohio
Ernie Allen, President and CEO, National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children
Lawrence Wasden, Attorney General, State of Idaho
When: 8:30 A.M. EDT
Pre-set: News media cameras should be set by 8:15 A.M. in the ballroom.
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