FY 2013 Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

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

Using grant funds, the Billings Police Department (PD) will enhance its detection, investigation, apprehension and prosecution of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children through basic and advanced training for investigators, forensic examiners and prosecutors. More specifically, the Billings PD will utilize funds to support training for Montana ICAC Task Force investigators in the areas of: undercover chat investigations and digital forensics. Funds will support overtime costs for a Billing PD detective to conduct ICAC investigations, a percentage of the MT ICAC Task Force Commander's salary, and subawards to 13 Montana ICAC affiliate agencies. These subgrants will support overtime, training and equipment needs of the individual law enforcement agencies.
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.

The Montana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force [MTICACTF] will support the following activities: employ a full time person to coordinate and direct task force activities throughout the state; dedicate a full-time police investigator; fund affiliate agencies; maintain updated MOUs and affiliate contacts; attend training sessions and conferences; maintain and expand the task force’s level of forensic capabilities; equip affiliates with up-to-date computer systems and accessories including MTICACTF-supported computer forensic labs; maintain the task force’s website and Facebook page; provide overtime funds to affiliates; maintain the MTICACTF Virtual Private Network for the transfer of evidence and case reports; utilize National ICAC Task Force resource sites for case deconfliction and statistics; cooperate with the Office of the U.S. Attorney, District of Montana Project Safe Childhood program; increase awareness and capacity of local jurisdictions to prosecute technology-facilitated crimes; conduct bi-annual undercover operations; maintain a proactive approach to on-line automated investigative techniques and software; stay active on National ICAC list serves and respond timely to CyberTip referrals issued by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, [NCMEC]. NCA/CF