Cook County ICAC Task Force Program

The National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, consists of state and local law enforcement task forces dedicated to developing effective responses to online enticement of children by sexual predators, child exploitation, and child obscenity and pornography cases. Each State and local task force that is part of the national program shall: 1) consist of State and local investigators, prosecutors, forensic specialists, and education specialists who are dedicated to addressing the goals of the task force; 2) engage in proactive investigations, forensic examinations, and effective prosecutions of Internet crimes against children; 3) provide forensic, preventive, and investigative assistance to parents, educators, prosecutors, law enforcement, and others concerned with Internet crimes against children; 4) develop multijurisdictional, multiagency partnerships and responses to Internet crimes against children offenses through ongoing informational, administrative, and technological support to other State and local law enforcement agencies, as a means for such agencies to acquire the necessary knowledge, personnel, and specialized equipment to investigate and prosecute such offenses; 5) participate in nationally coordinated investigations in any case in which the Attorney General determines such participation to be necessary, as permitted by the available resources of such task force; 6) establish or adopt investigative and prosecution standards consistent with established norms, to which such task force shall comply; 7) investigate, and seek prosecution on tips related to Internet crimes against children, including tips from Operation Fairplay, the National Internet Crimes Against Children Data System, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline, ICAC task forces, and other Federal, State, and local agencies, with priority being given to investigate leads that indicate the possibility of identifying or rescuing child victims, including investigative leads that indicate a likelihood of seriousness of offense or dangerousness to the community; 8) develop procedures for handling seized evidence for ICAC task force lead agencies and affiliate agencies; 9) maintain reports required by OJJDP and other reports and records as determined by the Attorney General; and, 10) seek to comply with national standards regarding the investigation and prosecution of Internet crimes against children, as set forth by the Attorney General, to the extent such standards are consistent with the law of the State where the task force is located. 

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Cook County ICAC Task Force operates to prevent, investigate and prosecute crimes involving the sexual victimization of children. The Cook County ICAC Task Force will continue to serve as a resource for all communities and agencies within Cook County. The Task Force will work to: increase the number of both proactive and reactive investigations; increase the number of forensic examinations; increase the number of referrals received from other ICAC Task Forces and federal partners; increase the capabilities of Cook County ICAC Task Force agencies in the investigation of technology-facilitated crimes against children; enhance the Cook County ICAC Task Force’s effectiveness in preventing these types of offenses; and formalize law enforcement partnerships through written agreements. This funding will support a full-time ICAC Assistant State’s Attorney (ASA), one part-time ASA, and one full-time Outreach Coordinator dedicated to the Cook County ICAC Task Force. The Task Force’s success will be measured including (but not limited to): the number of additional law enforcement agencies that join the Cook County ICAC Task Force, the number of investigations and computer forensics examinations conducted, the number of arrests made, and the number of Internet Safety presentations conducted.

The National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, consists of state and local law enforcement task forces dedicated to developing effective responses to online enticement of children by sexual predators, child exploitation, and child obscenity and pornography cases. Each State and local task force that is part of the national program shall: 1) consist of State and local investigators, prosecutors, forensic specialists, and education specialists who are dedicated to addressing the goals of the task force; 2) engage in proactive investigations, forensic examinations, and effective prosecutions of Internet crimes against children; 3) provide forensic, preventive, and investigative assistance to parents, educators, prosecutors, law enforcement, and others concerned with Internet crimes against children; 4) develop multijurisdictional, multiagency partnerships and responses to Internet crimes against children offenses through ongoing informational, administrative, and technological support to other State and local law enforcement agencies, as a means for such agencies to acquire the necessary knowledge, personnel, and specialized equipment to investigate and prosecute such offenses; 5) participate in nationally coordinated investigations in any case in which the Attorney General determines such participation to be necessary, as permitted by the available resources of such task force; 6) establish or adopt investigative and prosecution standards consistent with established norms, to which such task force shall comply; 7) investigate, and seek prosecution on tips related to Internet crimes against children, including tips from Operation Fairplay, the National Internet Crimes Against Children Data System, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline, ICAC task forces, and other Federal, State, and local agencies, with priority being given to investigate leads that indicate the possibility of identifying or rescuing child victims, including investigative leads that indicate a likelihood of seriousness of offense or dangerousness to the community; 8) develop procedures for handling seized evidence for ICAC task force lead agencies and affiliate agencies; 9) maintain reports required by OJJDP and other reports and records as determined by the Attorney General; and, 10) seek to comply with national standards regarding the investigation and prosecution of Internet crimes against children, as set forth by the Attorney General, to the extent such standards are consistent with the law of the State where the task force is located. 

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Cook County ICAC Task Force operates to prevent, investigate and prosecute crimes involving the sexual victimization of children. The Cook County ICAC Task Force will continue to serve as a resource for all communities and agencies within Cook County. The Task Force will work to: increase the number of both proactive and reactive investigations; increase the number of forensic examinations; increase the number of referrals received from other ICAC Task Forces and federal partners; increase the capabilities of Cook County ICAC Task Force agencies in the investigation of technology-facilitated crimes against children; enhance the Cook County ICAC Task Force’s effectiveness in preventing these types of offenses; and formalize law enforcement partnerships through written agreements. This funding will support a full-time ICAC Assistant State’s Attorney (ASA), one part-time ASA, and one full-time Outreach Coordinator dedicated to the Cook County ICAC Task Force. The Task Force’s success will be measured including (but not limited to): the number of additional law enforcement agencies that join the Cook County ICAC Task Force, the number of investigations and computer forensics examinations conducted, the number of arrests made, and the number of Internet Safety presentations conducted.