"Operation Safe Child" is now available at the Sheriff's Office through a partnership with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, the New York State Sheriffs Association, the New York State Police, and the New York State Association of Chief's of Police.

"Operation Safe Child" provides new ID cards (the size of a credit card) to parents across the state. It's a voluntary new initiative that will help raise awareness about child safety and will help make the current Child ID system more readily available to parents throughout New York State. If any parent in Cattaraugus County would like to have their child (less than 18 years of age) participate in this program they are asked to call (716) 938-9191 to make an appointment with the Sheriff's Office or bring their child to one of the events listed below. Their child's picture, fingerprints, height, weight, color of hair and eyes, etc. will be taken. The ID card is then presented to the parent or guardian for safe keeping.

Additionally, with written consent by the child's parent or guardian, The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services will be able to record and store these records - information critical to expediting the return of a child if he or she becomes missing. Operation Safe Child will be available to interested parents and families statewide. The information gathered will be digitally recorded and stored in a separate database at DCJS. In the event DCJS receives a missing child, the fingerprints of that child will be included in a special search file and compared against all incoming fingerprints submitted to DCJS. Once included in the database, parents or lawful guardians can request that information be purged at any time and when a child turns 18, the information will automatically be purged from the database.

Requirements

• Permission slips must be filled out and signed by a Parent or Legal Guardian prior to an ID Card being made
• Child must be less than 18 years of age
• Child must be old enough to sit in a chair for their photograph
• Cards must be issued to a Parent or Legal Guardian (If the permission slip has been sent home with your child, the ID Card will be produced, however it will remain at the school office where a Parent or Legal Guardian will be required to pick it up)

Facts about Operation Safe Child

• The Parent or Guardian must sign a permission slip for an ID Card to be produced
• Parents or Legal Guardian chooses whether to have the ID Card information stored at the Department of Criminal Justice Services in Albany
• Parents can at any time have the records purged from the database at the DCJS
• Records kept in Albany will not be accessed unless a child is reported missing