Oklahoma Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program

The purpose of the Oklahoma Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is to investigate the criminal sexual exploitation of children through the use of technology. This effort is an immediate and necessary one as the number of children using internet technology is rising. There is a nationwide increase in predators seeking child victims online; likewise, Oklahoma continues to see an increase in child sexual exploitation by use of technology. The Oklahoma ICAC task force will utilize proactive means to conduct undercover investigations in the online exploitation of children and will investigate reported online child exploitation through the CyberTipline and from the general public. 

The following are the project goals/objectives and the activities that will implemented: 1. Serve as a resource for federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies – this goal will be achieved though providing investigative and administrative support across the state; 2. Increase public awareness of the ICAC Task Force – this goal will be achieved by increasing community outreach and public awareness of the task force arrests and convictions; 3. Increase the number of arrests – dedicated investigators will increase peer to peer and undercover cases as well as increasing the number of affiliates trained to investigate internet crimes against children; 4. Serve as a forensic resource for the state – maintain and make available a computer forensics lab that is nationally accredited; 5. Contribute to the prosecution of cases – this goal will be achieved by maintaining a working relationship with federal, state and tribal prosecutors; 6. Expand the Oklahoma ICAC Task Force – engage local, tribal and state law enforcement agencies to enter into agreements to serve on the task force.

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 Oklahoma Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force aims to investigate technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children. The project goals include: (1) serving as a resource for federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies; (2) increase public awareness through community outreach; (3) increase the number of arrests; (4) serve as a forensic resource for the state; (5) contribute to the prosecution of cases; and (6) expand the Oklahoma ICAC Task Force. They collaborate with affiliated local law enforcement personnel, federal law enforcement partners, expert forensic examiners, and prosecutors. For these partnerships to be effective, the OSBI is committed to providing state and local partners the manpower, training, equipment, support, and expertise needed to develop and sustain an effective and systematic law enforcement response to investigating technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation. The Oklahoma ICAC Task Force will dedicate resources to expanding investigative abilities, increasing affiliate agency partnerships, providing relevant and modern training, and upgrading forensic capabilities within the state.