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 mission of the Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children (ARICAC) is to combat technology-facilitated child exploitation and the victimization of children throughout the state of Arkansas. AR ICAC has developed a three-year strategic mission that centers on three major areas of focus. In order to meet this goal the ARICAC will continue to add affiliate agencies to the task force. This addition of local agencies will increase the investigative scope of the ARICAC. In order to increase the number of cases submitted for Federal prosecution the ARICAC has forged relationships with federal partners such as the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations. The partnership with Homeland Security Investigations will not only increase the number of cases being worked, but will allow the forensic analysts in the Digital Evidence Section of the Arkansas State Police (ASP) as well as the Arkansas State Crime Lab (ASCL) access to Federal resources as Computer Forensic Agents.
Community outreach continues to be an important part of the ARICAC’s mission. New efforts to reach as many children and citizens as possible regarding Internet safety will be implemented by the program during this period. Working with the Arkansas Department of Education, ARICAC has developed a statewide community outreach program to focus on child internet safety and education. Continued support and outreach to School Resource Officers will remain a priority for the program.
