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 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 San Diego Police Department (SDPD) has identified the following project goals: 1 ) maintain and expand the San Diego ICAC Task Force; 2) conduct both proactive and reactive investigations into technology-facilitated crimes against children; 3) Serve as a forensic resource to law enforcement agencies; 5) assist, to the extent possible, with the effective prosecution of cases at the appropriate level; 6) effectively respond to referrals from agencies; 7) engage in law enforcement and community outreach activities; 9) participate in nationally-coordinated investigations. Using grant funds, SDPD will support salary and overtime costs for investigators at SDPD and two affiliate agencies (San Diego Sheriff's Office and San Diego District Attorney's Office) to investigate ICAC cases; provide training such as attendance at the National ICAC Conference for investigators; and, provide funding to the San Diego Police Foundation to provide community education in schools throughout the San Diego ICAC region. Funds will also support operational costs such as cell phones for investigators, wireless service, and software license renewals.
NCA/CF
