Three Texas law enforcement agencies and task forces will receive a combined $2.36 million in federal grants to combat technology-facilitated child exploitation.
The U.S. Department of Justice awarded $654,856 to the City of Houston, $826,531 to the City of Dallas, and $879,176 to the Texas Office of the Attorney General. The funding supports the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, which was reauthorized through Senator John Cornyn's PROTECT Our Children Act, and signed into law last year.
"By providing the resources law enforcement agencies need to counter the threat of cyber-crimes, we can build more barriers between predators and the victims they target," said Senator John Cornyn (R).
He added that the funding would help prosecutors and law enforcement use new technology to investigate online child predators and protect children.
The Houston Police Department's Metro ICAC Task Force will use its award to strengthen investigations, expand training for community outreach partners and provide additional resources to 84 affiliated law enforcement agencies and nonprofit organizations. The task force also plans to train personnel under ICAC operational and investigative standards.
The Dallas Police Department, which has participated in the ICAC Task Force since 1998 and serves as the lead agency for North Texas, will use its grant to investigate online crimes against minors across the 112 counties within its service area. The funding will also support responses to cyber tip reports, partnerships with law enforcement agencies, expanded prosecutorial capacity and internet safety education for parents and children.
The Southern Texas ICAC Task Force, supported through the attorney general's office, will use its award to service 134 counties across the region, including communites along the Texas coast and east toward Louisiana. The funding will support investigations, prosecutions, and partnerships with county and federal prosecutors.
