U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

Massachusetts ICAC Task Force Program

Award Information

Award #
15PJDP-21-GK-03790-MECP
Funding Category
Noncompetitive
Location
Congressional District
Status
Open
Funding First Awarded
2021
Total funding (to date)
$1,558,491

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2021, $472,499)

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 Massachusetts State Police (MSP), Massachusetts ICAC Task Force will continue to investigate computer-related crimes committed against children by enhancing investigative responses to technology-facilitated crimes by offenders using the internet and other technologies. The Task Force also has one hundred thirty-six (136) affiliate and partner agencies with 143 investigators, 15 prosecutors, 35 forensic examiners, and eight education specialists. MSP will maintain, improve, and expand the Massachusetts ICAC Task Force to prevent, interdict, investigate, and prosecute Internet crimes against children and technology-facilitated child exploitation by increasing the number of investigations, expanding the number of affiliate agencies, providing specialized training to task force members, and increasing the use of the mobile forensic vehicle.

Date Created: December 6, 2021