Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Taskforce KS Continuation

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 Sheriff's Office will use ICAC continuation funds to support one Sheriff Detective and one Wichita Police Detective dedicated to ICAC investigative duties. The Sheriff's Office and the Wichita Police Department supplement ICAC staffing with a Police Sergeant dedicated to ICAC supervision, four Detectives for ICAC investigations, and four Forensic Detectives, who support ICAC investigators. The Kansas ICAC Task Force also works directly with the Wichita-Sedgwick County Exploited and Missing Child Unit. Together these units investigate all exploitation, missing, human trafficking,and physical and sexual abuse cases involving child victims. The Kansas ICAC Task Force will continue to build relationships and enlist affiliates to combat the issue of child exploitation. The short term goal is to maintain the competencies and capabilities of the Kansas ICAC unit. The successive goals are to enhance communication and increase training provided to current and potential affiliate agencies. The Kansas ICAC Task Force strives to increase investigative and forensic capacity and increase the number of child predators identified and prosecuted. The progress of attaining the goals will be measured through accountability data reported periodically, per OJJDP requirements. No funds will be used for research.

CA/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 Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office will use these continuation program funds to support one Sheriff Detective and one Wichita Police Detective dedicated to Kansas ICAC Task Force investigative duties. The Sheriff’s Office and the Wichita Police Department supplement ICAC staffing with a Police Sergeant, four Detectives for ICAC investigations, and four forensic Detectives who support ICAC investigators. The Kansas ICAC Task Force also works directly with the Wichita-Sedgwick County Exploited and Missing Child Unit. Together, these units investigate all exploitation, missing, human trafficking, physical and sexual abuse cases involving child victims. Kansas ICAC Task Force affiliate agencies include city, county, and tribal law enforcement. The Kansas ICAC Task Force will continue to build relationships and enlist new affiliates and partners to combat child exploitation. The short term goal is to maintain the competencies and capabilities of the Kansas ICAC unit. The successive goals are to enhance communication and increase training provided to current and future affiliate agencies. The Kansas ICAC Task Force strives to increase investigative and forensic capacity and increase the number of child predators identified and prosecuted. Progress will be measured through accountability data reported periodically, per OJJDP requirements. CA/CF