Ernie Allen
Ernie Allen
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Ernest W. Allen, also known as Ernie Allen, was a renowned American advocate for victims of crime and missing children.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on June 26, 1947, in St. Louis, Missouri, he passed away on March 25, 2017.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Allen was an American with expertise in law enforcement, victim services, and juvenile justice reform. He held various positions throughout his career, including:
President of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
CEO of the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC)
Victim Advocate
Law Enforcement Consultant
Early Life and Background
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Allen grew up in a family that valued education and community service. His mother, a teacher, and his father, a lawyer, instilled in him the importance of helping others. He developed an early interest in law enforcement and social justice, which would later shape his career.
During his teenage years, Allen volunteered at local youth organizations, where he gained experience working with children from disadvantaged backgrounds. This exposure sparked his passion for addressing the needs of vulnerable populations.
Major Accomplishments
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Allen's work had a significant impact on national and international policies related to missing children, child abduction, and exploitation. Some notable achievements include:
Establishing NCMEC: Allen was instrumental in founding the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 1984. He served as its president from 1984 until his death in 2017.
ICMEC Leadership: As CEO of ICMEC, Allen worked with international partners to develop and implement strategies for preventing child abduction and exploitation worldwide.
Victim Services Reform: Allen advocated for improvements in victim services, including the creation of specialized units within law enforcement agencies to address the needs of victims' families.Notable Works or Actions
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Allen was a prolific author and speaker on topics related to missing children, child abduction, and exploitation. Some notable works include:
"The Lost Children: How American Society is Failing Its Kids—And What We Can Do About It": Allen co-authored this book with his wife, which highlights the plight of vulnerable children in the United States.
Testifying before Congress: Allen frequently testified before Congressional committees on issues related to missing children and child exploitation.Impact and Legacy
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Ernie Allen's tireless efforts have left a lasting impact on the field of victim services. His work has:
Influenced policy changes: Allen's advocacy led to significant reforms in laws and policies addressing child abduction, exploitation, and victim support.
Inspired a generation of advocates: His dedication and passion for helping others have inspired countless professionals working in law enforcement, social services, and related fields.Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Ernie Allen's quotes and writings continue to be widely referenced due to his:
Expertise: As a leading authority on missing children and child exploitation, his opinions carry significant weight.
* Passion: His unwavering commitment to helping others has made him a respected voice in the field of victim services.
His contributions will forever be remembered as he continues to inspire professionals working towards creating safer communities for all.
Quotes by Ernie Allen
This is more about reunification and repairing. But it's extremely urgent. If you're separated from your child in a supermarket or department store for 10 minutes, it's something you never forget. Here are parents who are separated from their children for three weeks and don't know where they are.
Not only have we seen an increase in reports of Internet child pornography, but the victims are becoming younger and the images are becoming more graphic and violent. To eliminate the commercial viability of child pornography, we must stop the flow of money. To do that, we need the involvement of the world's leaders in the payments industry and the Internet. The founding members of the Financial Coalition Against Child Pornography are to be commended for joining this critical fight.
This is daunting. It's going to take some time, ... These kids are not missing in the traditional sense. The key to this is communication.
The vast majority of the cases in our judgment are what we would call 'fractured families,'
It sends a message of hope to thousands of searching parents. We have not forgotten, and we're going to continue to look for their child.
It's kind of an exploitation or a seduction scenario. We think moms and dads ought to be concerned about it.
At a minimum what we can do is follow the money. If we take away the profitability, it is going to be very difficult for these sites to maintain themselves.
This is a massive problem, and the numbers are growing, ... We know there will not be a positive ending in some of these cases. We hope the number is as small as possible. Meanwhile, we're working under the assumption that these children are out there.