As a law enforcement task force investigating internet crimes against children, our primary goal is the protection of the children. Our secondary goal is the investigation and prosecution of the offenders.
We provide local law enforcement officers and prosecutors with training in child exploitation and hi-tech crimes.
We facilitate the regional coordination of information sharing and networking between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in handling child exploitation cases.
We distribute informational material needed to ensure that children, parents, the community and other organizations are well acquainted with child exploitation issues, problems and availability of assistance.
THE ICAC TASK FORCE CONCEPT
In 1998, the Missing Children’s Program of OJJDP initiated its Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force program, a national effort to combat the threat of offenders who use the Internet to sexually exploit children.
Through this program, state and local law enforcement agencies can acquire the skills, equipment, and personnel resources to respond effectively to ICAC type offenses. The program encourages law enforcement agencies to develop specialized multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency responses to prevent, interdict, investigate, and prosecute internet crimes against children.
There are now over 46 ICAC task forces participating in the ICAC task force program. Each task force is composed of federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel, federal and local prosecution officials, local educators, and service providers such as mental health professionals. These task forces serve as valuable regional resources for assistance to parents, educators, prosecutors, law enforcement personnel, and others who work on child victimization issues.