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.
Since 2000, the Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has worked tirelessly to investigate technology-facilitated crimes against children and prosecute predators to the fullest extent of the law. With updates in computer software systems, the ongoing development of dark web sites and sophisticated encryptions, the challenge in identifying these suspects is never-ending.
The Tennessee ICAC Task Force has assembled a multi-jurisdictional, multi agency response to ICAC offenses by utilizing federal grant funding to support state and local law enforcement agencies. Grant dollars are used to allow affiliate investigators to participate in contemporary training, purchase software licensing and acquire state-of-the-art equipment. Currently, Tennessee has 63 affiliate Task Force agencies and assists non-affiliates from throughout the state in investigating crimes against children. The Tennessee ICAC Task Force will continue to seek opportunities to expand the number of affiliate agencies, collaborate with law enforcement, prosecutors and other institutions in order to increase the investigative and operational productivity and effectiveness of protecting our children. With a goal of improving Task Force effectiveness, affiliates will have opportunities to attend contemporary training, network with fellow investigators and receive technical assistance from Forensic Specialists. Computers, software and other equipment will be purchased through grant funds in order to enhance local law enforcement technology needed to compete with the efforts of predators who continue to exploit children. Moreover, to ensure that investigations and evidence are above reproach and unchallenged in court, all expert-training certifications for Task Force affiliates will be maintained.
