Washington 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 Washington State ICAC Task Force (WA ICAC) proactively and reactively investigates an ever-growing number of technology-facilitated crimes against children. This task force interdicts, investigates, and prosecutes ICAC cases and currently has 128 affiliate agencies. Funding will support the following: salary and benefits associated with a dedicated full-time Strategic Advisor, full-time Administrative Assistant, travel and training costs for investigative detectives and forensic examiners, and the purchase of software and equipment they need to stay abreast of emerging technologies. The funding will support regional training and education opportunities for task force partners and equipment to support their investigations. Task Force members will also support preventative and education assistance to teachers, students, community members, and parents about the dangers of the Internet using available information and tools through NCMEC, NetSmartz, and similar products. Seattle Police Department will continue to collaborate on multi-jurisdictional investigations, prosecute ICAC cases, and provide regional ICAC-related training and technical assistance to all Washington ICAC Task Force affiliates.

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 Washington State ICAC Task Force (WA ICAC) proactively and reactively investigates an ever-growing number of technology-facilitated crimes against children. This task force interdicts, investigates, and prosecutes ICAC cases and currently has 128 affiliate agencies. Funding will support the following: salary and benefits associated with a dedicated full-time Strategic Advisor, full-time Administrative Assistant, travel and training costs for investigative detectives and forensic examiners, and the purchase of software and equipment they need to stay abreast of emerging technologies. The funding will support regional training and education opportunities for task force partners and equipment to support their investigations. Task Force members will also support preventative and education assistance to teachers, students, community members, and parents about the dangers of the Internet using available information and tools through NCMEC, NetSmartz, and similar products. Seattle Police Department will continue to collaborate on multi-jurisdictional investigations, prosecute ICAC cases, and provide regional ICAC-related training and technical assistance to all Washington ICAC Task Force affiliates.