Strengthening Investigative Tools and Technology for Combating Child Sexual Exploitation

This program provides funding to increase the technological investigative capacity and associated training for law enforcement, prosecutors, and other professionals through the development, refinement, and advancement of investigative tools, methods, and technologies that address child pornography, child exploitation, and child sex trafficking. This program is authorized pursuant to the Department of Justice Appropriations Act, 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-6, 133 Stat. 13, 115.

Purdue University will augment and enhance the capabilities of the Chat Analysis Triage Tool (CATT), a digital forensics tool that analyzes child sex offender chats. The enhancement will (1) assist law enforcement in prioritizing cases in which the offender is more likely to be contact-driven (high priority), (2) provide profiles (e.g., demographic characteristics) of the individuals chatting and meaningfully group individuals based on style and content, (3) assist law enforcement in identifying the offender in the images sent within the solicitations (biometric identification of offender), and (4) ensure the tool is forensically sound. Purdue University will also conduct beta testing and provide necessary training and technical assistance on the tool. CATT will be available for free for ICAC task forces and affiliates nationwide.
CA/NCF