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ICAC Task Force - MD

Award Information

Award #
2009-MC-CX-K020
Location
Congressional District
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2009
Total funding (to date)
$960,096

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $340,226)

Using OJJDP funds, the Maryland State Police ICAC will continue to play a lead role and be a key resource in protecting Maryland's children from online sexual predators. One of the primary goals of the Maryland Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is to enhance the investigative capabilities of Maryland law enforcement in order to better respond to online child exploitation cases. To ensure achievement of this goal, at least 25 percent of the grant award will be dedicated to funding the training sessions and equipment necessary to increase the capacity of local Maryland law enforcement affiliate agencies to respond to complaints of online child exploitation, as well as address those technical investigative shortcomings brought about by the advances of computers, the Internet, and wireless technology.

In addition, the Maryland State Police will continue to operate its ICAC Task Force as part of the national ICAC program operated by OJJDP. The Maryland ICAC Task Force, pursuant to Section 104 of the PROTECT Act, 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 responses and partnerships 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 resource of such task force; 6) establish or adopt investigative and prosecution standards consistent with 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 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; 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.

NCA/CF

Date Created: August 13, 2009