ICAC TASK FORCE - AL

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 Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) will continue to enhance the Alabama ICAC Task Force’s (AL ICAC) efforts to detect, investigate, apprehend and prosecute technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children. Goals for the project are: 1) increase the number of active affiliate agencies; 2) develop an enhanced CyberTip assessment process; 3) increase the Task Force’s investigative capabilities by creating and implementing a standard training protocol for all new affiliate members and creating and offering advanced ICAC investigative training to all current affiliate members; 4) provide training benefits to those affiliates that are active members and producing significant performance measures on a continual basis; 5) continue to develop relationships with all levels of prosecutors; 6) increase digital forensic capabilities; 7) increase efforts to conduct public outreach, training and education; 8) increase AL ICAC’s investigative efforts in the area of child sex trafficking; and 9) implement an officer wellness plan for all members of the ALEA’s ICAC Unit. Grant funds will support ALEA personnel costs for an investigator and forensic examiner, training costs, purchase of forensic software license renewals and digital forensic equipment, and an officer wellness contract.
NCA/CF

The National Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, 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 Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) will continue to enhance the Alabama ICAC (AL ICAC) Task Force's efforts to detect, investigate, apprehend and prosecute technology-facilitated sexual exploitation of children. Goals for the project are: 1) continue efforts to increase the number of active affiliate agencies participating in the Task Force; 2) continue implementing a more enhanced Cybtertip assessment process; 3) increase the Task Force's investigative capabilities in the detection, investigation, and apprehension of perpetrators of technology-facilitated crimes against children by creating and implementing a standard training protocol for all new affiliate members and creating and offering advanced ICAC investigative training to all current affiliate members of the Task Force; 4) continue developing relationships with all levels of prosecutors; 5) increase digital forensic capabilities with a strong focus on decreasing the ICAC Unit's forensic analysis backlog; 6) continue to increase efforts to conduct public outreach, training and education; 7) increase AL ICAC's investigative efforts in the area of child sex trafficking; and 8) implement and maintain the newly formalized Stress Management and Wellness Program. CA/CF.