Increasing commitment to fight Internet predators, protect Iowa children

With the advent of the Internet, Iowans have easy access to a wealth of information and resources. Unfortunately, use of the Internet also carries risks, particularly for young users.

In 2004, the state Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) received a federal grant to create the Iowa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which allows law enforcement agencies across Iowa to work together on investigations of sexual exploitation of children over the Internet.

The Senate Appropriations Committee voted last week to appropriate nearly $400,000 and to authorize hiring three full-time DCI employees to expand the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

A major component of the Task Force is training parents, teachers, librarians, community leaders and others to be aware of the dangers of the Internet, as well as the steps that can be taken to protect children from Internet predators and other dangers.

The Task Force also investigates Internet sex crimes. For example, help is available to a parent whose child has been contacted by an adult attempting to entice them into a meeting for sexual contact of some kind. In such a case, agents would step in to build a case and make an arrest if the adult attempts to meet the child.

In addition, the Task Force has digital forensics capabilities for analyzing digital evidence. This could include examining a computer hard drive seized in connection with a child pornography case or to build a case against an individual who attempts to meet and have sex with a child they met over the Internet.

During 2006 the Task Force participated in more than 80 arrests of adults traveling to or within Iowa with the intention of meeting and having sex with a child. By increasing our commitment to these efforts to target and catch people that use the Internet to prey on Iowa children, we can send a message that it’s not safe to be a sexual predator in Iowa.

For information about the Task Force and Internet safety resources, go to www.iowaicac.org.