Investigating Crimes Against Children

Federal Bureau of Investigation

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) exercises jurisdiction and investigative responsibilities pursuant to Federal statutes addressing various crimes against children (CAC). Federal law defines a "child" as a minor under the age of eighteen. The FBI investigations involving CAC generally include violations of Federal statutes relating to:

• Sexual exploitation of children
• Sexual exploitation of children facilitated by an online computer
• Possession, production and/or distribution of child pornography
• Possession, production, distribution and/or downloading of child pornography facilitated by an online computer
• Interstate transportation of obscene material
• Interstate transportation of children for sexual activity
• Child abduction
• Domestic/international parental kidnapping
• Physical/sexual abuse of a child on a government reservation
• National Sex Offender Registry matters
• Violations of the Child Support Recovery Act

Innocent Images National Initiative

The FBI's Innocent Images National Initiative (IINI) is an intelligence driven, proactive, multi-agency investigative initiative to combat child pornography/child sexual exploitation (CP/CSE) facilitated through the use of online computers.

The IINI was predicated upon an investigation that led to two suspects being identified who had been sexually exploiting children over a 25-year period. Investigation of their activities revealed that adults were routinely using the Internet and other online services to transmit child pornography and/or entice minors into engaging in illicit sexual activity.

The mission of the IINI is to:

• Identify, investigate, and prosecute sexual predators who use the Internet and other online services to sexually exploit children.
• Establish a law enforcement presence on the Internet as a deterrent to subjects that exploit children.
• Identify and rescue witting and unwitting child victims.

The IINI specifically focuses on:

• Those persons who indicate a willingness to travel interstate for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with a minor.
• Major producers and/or distributors of child pornography.

To proactively combat this crime problem, IINI undercover operations are being conducted in FBI field offices by task forces that combine the resources of the FBI with other Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

Innocent Images investigations involve:

• Internet websites that post child pornography
• Chat rooms
• Internet News Groups
• Internet Relay Chat (IRC) Channels
• File Servers ("FServes")
• Bulletin Board Systems (BBBs)

FBI Agents and task force officers go online undercover utilizing fictitious screen names and engaging in real-time chat or E-mail conversations with subjects to obtain evidence of criminal activity.

Investigation of specific online locations can be initiated through:

• A citizen complaint
• A complaint by an online service provider
• A referral from a law enforcement agency

The IINI provides centralized coordination and analysis of case information that, by its very nature, is national and international in scope. Therefore, the IINI achieves unprecedented coordination with other Federal, state, local, and international governments.

As a result, each of the FBI's 56 field offices are investigating cases developed by the IINI. International investigations are arranged through the FBI's Legal Attaché program, which coordinates investigations with appropriate foreign law enforcement agencies.

IINI training is provided to Federal, state, local and foreign law enforcement agencies on an ongoing basis to keep them abreast of the techniques and technology required to investigate the sexual exploitation of children facilitated by online computers. Presentations are also provided to non-law enforcement, such as civic organizations and parent groups, to further the objectives of the IINI.

Crimes Against Children Investigations
FBI HEADQUARTERS

The Crimes Against Children Unit (CACU) was established in 1997 within the Violent Crime and Major Offenders Section, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI Headquarters, to specifically focus on CAC. The CACU is staffed by Supervisory Special Agents and support professionals who:

• Address all crimes under the FBI's jurisdiction that involve the victimization of children
• Provide program management and field wide investigative oversight of those critical FBI operations
• Coordinate training throughout the law enforcement community

To make full use of all available resources, an FBI Supervisory Special Agent is assigned full-time at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) to coordinate the cross utilization of FBI and NCMEC resources to facilitate the most effective FBI response to child abductions, parental kidnappings, child pornography and other sexual exploitation of children matters.

NCMEC's free services include poster distribution, age enhancement of photographs, and many other resources. The NCMEC can be contacted online at www.missingkids.com or through their 24-hour multilingual hotline at 1 800-THE-LOST. NCMEC's business telephone number is (703) 274-3900.

FBI FIELD OFFICES
Individual FBI field offices throughout the country serve as the primary point of contact for persons requesting FBI assistance. Each FBI field office has at least two Special Agents designated as Crimes Against Children Coordinator who:

• Use all available FBI investigative, forensic, tactical, informational, and behavioral science resources to investigate crimes against children.
• Coordinate their investigations with appropriate Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.
• Utilize multi-agency, multi-disciplinary CAC Resource Teams consisting of law enforcement, prosecutive, social service and other professionals.
• CAC resource teams are capable of effectively investigating and prosecuting incidents that cross legal and geographical jurisdictional boundaries.

FBI NATIONAL CENTER
FOR THE ANALYSIS OF VIOLENT CRIME
Child abductions, the mysterious disappearance of children and serial murder are among the most difficult crimes to resolve and require immediate dedication of resources. The FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC), located at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, has a FBI rapid response element that addresses these crimes by:

• Providing operational assistance to FBI field offices and Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies involved in violent crime investigations.
• Providing onsite investigative support through technical and forensic resource coordination.
• Applying the most current expertise available in matters involving missing and exploited children.

Upon being notified that a child has been abducted, FBI field offices and the NCAVC coordinate an immediate response to the abduction:

• Special Agents join other law enforcement in coordinating and conducting the comprehensive neighborhood investigation.
• FBI Evidence Response Teams may conduct the forensic investigation of the abduction site.
• A Rapid Start Team may immediately be deployed to coordinate and track investigative leads, which often number in the thousands.

NCAVC Services also include:

• Profiles of unknown and known offenders
• Crime analysis and linkage utilizing the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP)
• Investigative strategies
• Interview and interrogation strategies
• Behavioral assessments
• Trial preparation and prosecutive strategy
• Expert testimony
• FBI Laboratory services
• Research regarding child abductions and serial homicides
• Coordination of other resources
• Training for the law enforcement community

Training

The FBI also offers an extensive training program for the law enforcement community. Training in a broad spectrum of topics is offered to bonafide law enforcement personnel in settings throughout the United States, around the world, and at the FBI Academy. Each FBI field office has an assigned training coordinator. International requests for training can be made through FBI Legal Attachés located within American Embassies.

For further information about the FBI's Crimes Against Children services and to search your state's on-line sex offender registry, go to www.fbi.gov. To request immediate assistance, contact a Crimes Against Children Coordinator at your local FBI field office:

Albany (518) 465-7551
Albuquerque (505) 224-2000
Anchorage (907) 258-5322
Atlanta (404) 679-9000
Baltimore (410) 265-8080
Birmingham (205) 326-6166
Boston (617) 742-5533
Buffalo (716) 856-7800
Charlotte (704) 377-9200
Chicago (312) 431-1333
Cincinnati (513) 421-4310
Cleveland (216) 522-1400
Columbia (803) 551-4200
Dallas (214) 720-2200
Denver (303) 629-7171
Detroit (313) 965-2323
El Paso (915) 832-5000
Honolulu (808) 521-1411
Houston (713) 693-5000
Indianapolis (317) 639-3301
Jackson (601) 948-5000
Jacksonville (904) 721-1211
Kansas City (816) 221-6100
Knoxville (423) 544-0751
Las Vegas (702) 385-1281
Little Rock (501) 221-9100
Los Angeles (310) 477-6565
Louisville (502) 583-3941
Memphis (901) 747-4300
Miami (305) 944-9101
Milwaukee (414) 276-4684
Minneapolis (612) 376-3200
Mobile (334) 438-3674
Newark (973) 792-3000
New Haven (203) 777-6311
New Orleans (504) 816-3000
New York City (212) 384-1000
Norfolk (757) 455-0100
Oklahoma City (405) 290-7770
Omaha (402) 493-8688
Philadelphia (215) 418-4000
Phoenix (602) 279-5511
Pittsburgh (412) 471-2000
Portland (503) 224-4181
Richmond (804) 261-1044
Sacramento (916) 481-9110
Salt Lake City (801) 579-1400
San Antonio (210) 225-6741
San Diego (858) 565-1255
San Francisco (415) 553-7400
San Juan (787) 754-6000
Seattle (206) 622-0460
Springfield (217) 522-9675
St. Louis (314) 231-4324
Tampa (813) 273-4566
Washington DC (202) 278-2000

Federal Bureau of Investigation
J. Edgar Hoover Building
Crimes Against Children Unit
Room 11163
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20535-0001
(202) 324-3666
www.fbi.gov

Individual FBI Field Offices serve as primary points of contact for persons requesting FBI assistance. For further information about FBI services or to request assistance, please contact a Crimes Against Children Coordinator at your local FBI Field Office.