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 Osceola County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), Central Florida ICAC Task Force will continue to maintain and expand state and regional ICAC task forces utilizing the latest and most sophisticated training and technological resources available. The Central Florida ICAC Task Force covers the central 17 counties of Florida. The Central Florida ICAC Task Force will ensure that law enforcement and prosecutors are fully trained in the most current methods and platforms of investigating and successfully seeing these cases through prosecution. They plan to continue their partnership with affiliate agencies and federal partners, focusing on enhancing communication, resource and sharing information, networking, and case deconfliction. The OCSO will coordinate quarterly meetings to ensure affiliate agencies are on track and can meet the goals and objectives. The Central Florida ICAC Task Force will utilize ICAC funding to continue to serve as a financial and technical resource, be responsive to agency referrals, engage in law enforcement and community outreach activities, and effectively prosecute cases at the local, state, and federal levels.
