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 Michigan State Police (MSP) will work to improve the Michigan ICAC's effectiveness in responding to online enticement of children by sexual predators as well as child exploitation, child obscenity, and pornography by maintaining and expanding state and regional ICAC task forces to prevent, interdict, investigate, and prosecute internet crimes against children. MSP will maintain and increase forensic capacity at its five regional task force locations, and will increase Michigan ICAC investigative efforts by providing training and field software and hardware support to maintain current prosecution success rates for forensic data recovery specialists and high-tech crime training events. MSP will also work to upgrade state-of-the-art technology for forensic recovery on computers and mobile devices, to include mobile device hardware and software, and provide related specialized training. The MSP will continue community education work and increase public awareness and education regarding Internet and technology safety issues by creating more awareness through the grassroots support of charitable organizations and providing child-friendly safety events across Michigan, as well as conducting a statewide public information campaign on Internet safety.
NCA/CF
