Decatur, GA – Georgia’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force has released data for 2017.  The task force is housed within the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s (GBI) Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit (CEACCU).  The mission of the ICAC Task Force program is to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing an effective response to cyber enticement, child pornography and the commercial sexual exploitation of children.

The ICAC Task Force made 350 arrests during the past year for such crimes as possession and distribution of child pornography, child abuse/molestation, and human trafficking.

CEACCU and the ICAC Task Force received and reviewed 4,844 cybertips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).  Cybertips report instances of online enticement of children for sexual acts, extra-familial child sexual molestation, child pornography, child sex tourism, child sex trafficking, and unsolicited obscene materials sent to children.

Also, over 26,000 people attended ICAC presentations throughout the state as part of training sessions, community education programs, and public events.

The Georgia ICAC Task Force is comprised of 232 local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, other related criminal justice agencies and prosecutor’s offices.  Its mission is to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in developing an effective response to cyber enticement and child pornography cases. This support encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, prevention and community education. The ICAC Program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the internet, the proliferation of child pornography, and the heightened online activity by predators searching for unsupervised contact with underage victims. By helping state and local law enforcement agencies develop effective and sustainable responses to online child victimization and child pornography, the ICAC program delivers national resources at the local level.

The GBI CEACCU consists of Special Agents and Digital Forensic Investigators.  Digital Forensic Investigators process all types of digital media, including computers, cell phones, tablets, etc. for electronic evidence to be used in support of criminal investigations.  The unit provides digital forensic support to GBI offices and other law enforcement agencies in the area of digital forensics. Special Agents assigned to the CEACCU conduct proactive and reactive investigations involving crimes against children and attempt to locate and rescue juvenile victims of commercial sexual exploitation.

Bahan Rich – Public Affairs Deputy Director | Decatur | [email protected]