Investigation of Crimes Against Children
The Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office assigns a full time investigator to handle crimes against children and oversee cases of juvenile delinquency, or crimes committed by children. Investigator Bruce Benjamin works closely with all the schools in Pitkin County, the Department of Human Services, the Office of the District Attorney, the District Court, and all law enforcement agencies in the area. With this close collaboration, the best possible services to the area’s youth are delivered, with the highest level of public safety being the ultimate goal.
The types of child abuse case that the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office investigates are varied and include physical abuse and sexual abuse. With the advent of technology, cases such as child enticement via the internet, cyber bullying, and child pornography possession and distribution via the internet or via texting are encountered. For these type of case, national resources are frequently accessed. These resources included the FBI’s regional computer forensic laboratory, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s DNA laboratory and other forensic services, the Kempe Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, and The Children’s Hospital in Denver.
Juvenile Investigator Benjamin also supervises the registration of sex offenders in the unincorporated area of Pitkin County.
His contact information is:
Bruce Benjamin
Juvenile Investigator
Phone: (970)920-5300
e-mail: Bruce.Benjamin@pitkinsheriff.com
The following is a list of additional resources in regards to child abuse:
The Pitkin County Department of Human Services formerly known as Social Services, provides families and individuals with financial and counseling assistance, and investigates cases of child abuse and neglect within the family. Those investigations are conducted as a team with the appropriate law enforcement agency.
The Pitkin County Department of Human Services
405 Castle Creek Road, suite 7
Aspen, CO 81611
Phone number and e-mail address for reporting of suspected cases of child abuse or neglect:
(970)429-2040 ext 1
referrals@co.pitkin.co.us
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children provides a website which can access missing children nationwide. The Center also provides a Cyber Tipline which can coordinate child exploitation and child pornography cases that are multi state and international in nature. The Center’s International Division provides assistance in international child abductions and is an extremely valuable resource when a parent is faced with a parental abduction contrary to a court order.
Contact information:
Website: www.ncmec.org
phone: (800) THE-LOST
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation website provides information on Colorado’s Amber Alert System which can active immediate media alerts for missing children, 24 hours a day. The CBI’s website also contains a Sex Offender registry which is a list of registered sex offenders in Colorado who were convicted of felony sex offenses.
Website: www.cbi.state.co.us
Click on Sex Offender Registry or Amber Alert Program
Alpine Legal Services provides Roaring Fork Valley residents with low cost legal representation and consultation in the areas of child custody, protection orders for victims of domestic violence and abuse, and other legal matters.
Website: www.alpinelegalservices.com
phone: (970)945-8858
walk in office hours are maintained in the Pitkin County Courthouse on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.