Coordinators
In May
1997, FBI Director Louis Freeh ordered each FBI Field
Office to designate at least two Special Agents as
CAC Coordinators to maximize the FBI's resources
and expertise in CAC investigations.
CAC Coordinators
use all available FBI investigative, forensic, tactical,
informational, and behavioral science resources to
investigate crimes against children. They coordinate
their investigation with appropriate local law enforcement
agencies and federal or state prosecutors.
Coordinators
are tasked with establishing and maintaining multi-agency,
multi-disciplinary Resource Teams with participants
from local, tribal, state, and other federal agencies;
federal and state prosecutors; and non-government
organizations having roles related to child safety
and welfare. The CAC Resource Teams facilitate effective
investigation and prosecution of CAC that cross legal
and geographical jurisdictional boundaries. The Resource
Teams also enhance the provision of victim/witness
assistance services and the interagency sharing of
intelligence, information, specialized skills, and
services.
The Teams
gain resources and expertise from the FBI in areas
such as online child pornography/child sexual exploitation
investigations; interstate and international investigations;
rapid multi-jurisdictional investigations; behavioral
science support; laboratory analysis; evidence recovery;
surveillance; and technical and analytical support.
An example
of a CAC Resource Team is the FBI Los Angeles Regional
Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Team that
was formed in June 1995. The Safe Team combines all
FBI CAC matters in a multi-agency task force environment.
The task force focuses on combating child pornography/child
sexual exploitation and the use of the Internet and
computer technology in these cases, child abductions,
parental kidnappings (domestic and international)
and sexually habitual offenders. This mission is
accomplished by conducting investigations of federal,
state, and local cases in the Central District of
California (CDCA). The SAFE Team frequently provides
instructors in support of local, regional, and national
CAC training initiatives.
The SAFE
Team includes CAC Coordinators from the Los Angeles
Field Office, as well as other experienced investigators
from area federal, state, and local law enforcement
agencies. The SAFE Team has developed an outstanding
reputation with law enforcement agencies throughout
the state of California, and elsewhere around the
United States.
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.