Ridgefield Police Department
Following is some information that residents of the Community may find helpful now or for future reference:
- Internet
- Consumer Protection
- Sex Offender Registry Link
- Drug Information Link
- Credit Report
- McGruff
Internet Pointers:
Parents have been trying to instill in their children the dangers of the Internet. Many children get it but for some, warnings may not be enough to convince your children to be safe on line; teens are sometimes resistant to taking the advice of their parents but it is important to keep reminding them.
There are very real dangers on the Internet social networking sites like MySpace.com; it is one of the most popular sites among teens and preteens. On these sites, due to anonymity, teens can pretend to be older and predators can pretend to be younger. Sites like MySpace, Facebook or LinkedIn allows people to post photos, create blogs, connect with other members and list their online buddies. In the process of establishing themselves on this site, many youths have revealed their home address, school name and places frequented which can allow someone to pinpoint their location. The posted photos are many times suggestive in nature or showing activity such as drinking or drugging. Sites like this are a candy store for predators.
Other online sites frequently visited by girls promotes anorexia and gives girls who are prone to this disorder, tips on how to damage themselves even more. Parents concerned that their child may be dealing with anorexia or other eating disorders can visit http://KidsHealth.com. This site also has other tips and information that can be valuable to youth and teens.
In order to try to limit access to Internet dangers, parents should :
1) tell their children to never provide personal information while in a chat room or on a bulletin board.
2) tell their children to never send their photos or photos of family members to anyone they do not know.
3) tell their children to never make plans to physically meet with someone they met online without their parents' permission.
4) tell their children that if they happen to inadvertently bring up an inappropriate website, they should use the Stop button to discontinue downloading from the site and then use the Back button to return to the previous screen.
5) tell their children that if they receive an inappropriate e-mail, tell their parents who should report it to their service provider.
6) a tool for parents geeared to help them safeguard their teens is the new ParentCare software, available for download at myspace.com/safety (click on safety on the bottom of the page). You can verify whether your child has a MySpace page and obtain some additional safety tips on the site.
7) keep in mind that social-networking sites are a popular way to spread spyware. Facebook and LinkedIn have been reported to be safer than MySpace.
Parents should also consider placing the computer in a central location in the home - not the child's room - and occasionally monitor what your child is doing on the Internet.
Parents should consider limiting the amount of time and set specific hours when their children can use the Internet.
Parents should consider purchasing filtering software to block inappropriate sites, chat rooms and content or check with your service provider to see if such options are available with your subscription.
A good website to check out is http://www.ftc.gov/infosecurity which has quality content and links for further information.
A good website to check out for controlling spam is http://www.ftc.gov/spam.
Consumer Protection:
Automotive Assistance:
For anyone who has had the misfortune of having their dream car turn into a nightmare, Connecticut residents may be eligible to rectify the situation by checking out the Lemon Law Program at http://www.ct.gov/dcp/cwp.
At this site, you can learn about the Lemon Law and, if applicable, access the Application Form.
Home Improvement :
Many residents have opted to make home improvements to their present residence and many have had some misfortune when dealing with contractors. According to the State of Connecticut, homeowners can avoid some headaches when entering into home improvements when they:
1) Get to know the Contractor, get references from previous customers and visit past job sites.
2) Get more than one estimate; if the job bids differ significantly, get more bids. Do not assume that the extremely low bid is a bargain until you be sure that the quality of the material being used meets standard guidelines.
3) Get involved in learning what actually will be done with the improvements so you will understand why a bid may be higher than expected.
4) Don't sign any Contract or approve any Plans or Blueprints unless you FULLY understand them.
5) Plan your payments according to the work as it progresses. Be leery of any contractor who demands full payment up front or a large advance up front.
6) Be sure the necessary building permits are in hand. This is primarily the HOMEOWNER'S responsibility so if something has not been obtained, the homeowner will be held responsible.
7) Homeowners who enter into a Contract must be informed that they have three (3) business days to cancel.
Residents can obtain further information or register a complaint by viewing the site where the above information was obtained: //www.state.ct.us/dcp
Sex Offender Registry:
The following is a link to the State Sex Offender Registry: http://www.sor.state.ct.us/ or the National Registry at: http://www.nationalalertregistry.com/
Drugs Resource and Links:
For solid information regarding all types of drugs, parents can view:
http://www.drugabusehelp.com
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov
Credit Reports:
To keep an up-to-date accounting of your credit rating, request a copy of your credit report from:
http://Equifax.com
http://Experian.com
http://TransUnion.com
http://annualcreditreport.com
McGruff:
A site for both parents and youth. Parents can read about internet safety, cyber bullying, school bullying, etc., and they can also sit with their children and view this site together. The topics can help parents and children talk about different subjects, learn coping skills and obtain valuable information. Visit http://mcgruff.org
Also check the Government website for miscellaneous information: http://usa.gov