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ICAC TASK FORCE
SPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task ForceÂ
Community Partnership to Combat Child Exploitation
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force
The Salinas Police Department is an active participant in the ICAC Task Force, a national network dedicated to investigating and prosecuting individuals who exploit children online. Our efforts focus on identifying and apprehending offenders involved in human and sex trafficking through digital platforms.
The Salinas Police Department is committed to collaborating with the community to the exploitation of minors and trafficking victims.
We encourage you to report any suspicious activities. Our officers will investigate all reports, and you have the option to call our anonymous tip line if you prefer not to disclose your name.
Safety Guidelines:
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Never jeopardize your safety by attempting to take photos or gather information.
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Collect information discreetly without confronting suspicious individuals.
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Dial 911 in case of emergencies.
WHAT WE DO
COMMUNITY AWARENESS
We engage with the community to raise awareness about human trafficking and sex trafficking, providing educational resources and training to help recognize and report suspicious activities.
RESCUE OPERATIONS
In collaboration with the FBI and other law enforcement agencies, we have successfully rescued victims of human trafficking. Notable operations include the February 2018 rescue of eight teenage girls from a trafficking ring.
COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT
We work closely with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as non-profit organizations and community groups, to enhance our efforts in combatting human trafficking and supporting victims.
THE HISTORY OF THIS TASK FORCE
Grant Recieved
The Salinas Police Department was awarded a $200,000 grant to purchase the mobile computer forensic vehicle as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The Silicon Valley (San Jose PD) ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force Program is a task force organized under the National ICAC Task Force. The program is currently composed of 61 regional Task Force agencies and is funded by the United States Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
WHY WE NEEDED THE ICAC PROGRAM
The ICAC program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet and other technology, the proliferation of child sexual abuse images available electronically, and the heightened online activity by predators seeking unsupervised contact with potential underage victims. Salinas Police and ICAC member organizations understand that arrests alone cannot resolve the problem of technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and recognizing this the ICAC program is also dedicated to training law enforcement officers and prosecutors, as well as educating parents and youth about the potential dangers of online activity.
Mobile Investigations
ICAC helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children. This help encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education.
Regional Asset
The Mobile Forensic Vehicle was designed and built to Salinas Police specifications. The vehicle has various computer forensic tools and an interview room with audio/visual recording capabilities. The total purchase price of the vehicle with equipment and installation was $200,000. The vehicle is a multi-disciplined tool available for all SPD field operations and is available as a regional asset.
ONLINE SAFETY FOR YOUTH
Online Safety for YouthÂ
Featured Resource
Safety Pledge
Developed with funding support from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Safety Pledge website provides free resources to help parents, educators, and caregivers learn more about the risks that children face online and how to respond safely. NCMEC partnered with the White House and Department of Justice on this new campaign to combat online child exploitation.
Publications
Keeping Children Safe Online
U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, January 2023
Staying Safe on Social Network Sites
U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, February 2021
Related Resources
Crimes Against Children Research Center
Funded in part by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Crimes Against Children Research Center serves to combat crimes against children by providing research and statistics to the public, policy makers, law enforcement, and other child welfare personnel.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
The FBI works to prevent criminals, sexual predators, and others intent on malicious destruction from using the internet and online services to steal from, defraud, and otherwise victimize citizens, businesses, and communities. See the following FBI webpages to learn more:
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Protecting Kids Online
This section of the FTCÂ site provides online privacy guidelines and resources for kids, parents, and educators.
Keeping Children Safe Online
Due to COVID-19, kids and adults are online more than ever, often unsupervised in the same space. This Department of Justice webpage provides information, tips, videos, and more to help kids stay safe.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
The NCMEC mission is to help prevent child abduction and sexual exploitation; help find missing children; and assist victims of child abduction and sexual exploitation, their families, and the professionals who serve them.
NetSmartz
Developed in part through funding from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, NetSmartz offers free, multimedia internet safety presentations tailored for specific audiences – parents and communities, tweens, teens, and younger children.
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP)
OJJDP provides national leadership, coordination, and resources to prevent and respond to juvenile delinquency and victimization. See OJJDP’s Sexual Exploitation of Children page for topical information.
Project Safe Childhood (PSC)
This U.S. Department of Justice initiative combats the use of computers for the purposes of sexual exploitation crimes against children. It aims to investigate and prosecute offenders, as well as protect and assist victimized children.
U.S. Department of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS)
The mission of the CEOS is to protect the welfare of America’s children and communities by enforcing federal criminal statutes relating to the exploitation of children and obscenity.