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Washington State Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force

Award Information

Award #
2015-MC-FX-K039
Location
Awardee County
King
Congressional District
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2015
Total funding (to date)
$1,321,670

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2015, $416,929)

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.

As the lead law enforcement agency for the ICAC Task Force in the State of Washington, the Seattle Police Department proactively and reactively investigates an ever growing number of technology-facilitated crimes against children. Each year since the ICAC Task Force began, the Seattle Police Department has successfully expanded the number of investigative partner agencies within Washington State, which improves the overall Task Force’s response to interdict, investigate and prosecute ICAC cases. Twenty five (25) of the 29 counties in Washington State have representation on the statewide ICAC Task Force. This new funding will support the salary and benefit costs associated with a dedicated full time Program Manager, travel and training costs for detectives and forensic investigators, and the purchase of software and equipment needed to stay abreast of emerging technologies. The funding will also support regional training and education opportunities for Task Force partners and equipment to support their investigations. Task Force members will utilize NetSmartz and other NCMEC tools to educate teachers, students, and parents about the dangers of the Internet.
NCA/CF

Date Created: September 20, 2015