FY13 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force

Pursuant to Section 104 of the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008, the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force 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, educator, 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.

The goal of the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children (NJ ICAC) project is to enhance the ability of New Jersey's law enforcement community to effectively understand, respond to, investigate, and prosecute internet related crimes against children. The objectives of this project are: 1) maintain and expand the NJ ICAC Task Force; and 2) improve Task Force effectiveness. These goals and objectives will be accomplished by increasing the percentage of staff dedicated to investigating and prosecuting ICAC cases; increasing the percentage of computer forensic examinations by the Task Force; increasing the percentage of investigative technical assistance sessions that the Task Force provides to non-member law enforcement agencies; and ensuring that law enforcement agencies adhere to the National ICAC Operational and Investigative Program Standards. Grant funds will support overtime costs for New Jersey ICAC Task Force members to investigate and prosecute ICAC crimes. In addition, funds will be used to further develop NJ ICAC's investigative capacity through supporting costs for laptops and desktop computers to investigate technology facilitated crimes against children; renewing EnCase software licenses and supporting training costs for NJ State Police personnel as well as affiliate agency personnel. Specific ICAC-related training includes: International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists Conference, Dallas Crimes Against Children Conference, National ICAC Conference, Computer Forensics, Data Recovery and Analysis, and core ICAC training.

NCA/CF

The National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, as established by the PROTECT Our Children Act of 2008, 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 resource 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.

Using ICAC Task Force Program funds, the New Jersey ICAC Task Force will continue to increase its geographic coverage throughout the State, imparting knowledge and specialized investigative skills through training; creating public/private partnerships; improving investigative procedures/reporting; pursuing offenders; and identifying child victims. In the area of community outreach, the New Jersey ICAC Task Force will continue to educate not only parents and children, but prosecutors, law enforcement officials, and other professionals charged with the protection of children in the State. In addition, grant funds will support overtime costs for New Jersey ICAC Task Force members to investigate and prosecute ICAC crimes. Finally, funds will be used to further develop the task force's investigative capacity by supporting costs for laptops and desktop computers to investigate technology facilitated crimes against children; renewing software licenses; and supporting training costs for New Jersey State Police personnel as well as affiliate agency personnel. NCA/CF