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.