Title
Authorization to Apply for the Strengthening Internet Crimes Against Children Technological Investigative Capacity Grant (Ordinance S-50878)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to allow the Police Department to apply for, accept, and enter into an agreement with the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for the Strengthening Internet Crimes Against Children Technological Investigative Capacity grant. Further request authorization for the City Treasurer to accept, and for the City Controller to disburse all funds related to this item. The grant amount is not to exceed $625,000.
Report
Summary
The Police Department commands the Arizona Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and has received funding through this source annually for the past several years. The goal of the task force is to improve effectiveness to prevent, interdict, investigate and prosecute internet crimes against children and child exploitation. The Arizona ICAC Task Force is partnered with 56 law enforcement agencies statewide. Since 2006, the Arizona ICAC Task Force has conducted more than 45,000 investigations resulting in the arrest of hundreds of offenders and provided preventative training presentations to children, parents, and community groups to educate them on how to protect children from internet crimes.
If awarded, grant funds will be used to support the enhancement and/or refinement of investigative tools, methods, and technologies that address child sexual abuse material and online child sexual exploitation.
The grant application is due on May 28, 2024. If approved, the Police Department will move forward with submitting their application.
Contract Term
The project period is for two years and will begin on Oct. 1, 2024.
Financial Impact
No matching funds are required.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Police Department.