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Partnership in Action In his keynote address to the conference, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales shared a "true success story" that illustrates the importance of partnerships in Project Safe Childhood efforts. To view the entire address, go to www.usdoj.gov/ag/speeches/2006/ ag_speech_061204.html. Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales delivers the keynote address. The strength of the Project Safe Childhood structure was evident when a tip from a concerned citizen led to the indictment of a registered sex offender on five counts of production of child pornography. The defendant was observed at a public park with a group of young boys and a digital camera. The concerned citizen called the St. Paul Police Department, who ultimately requested assistance from the Minnesota ICAC Task Force, who then included the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Secret Service, Midwest Children's Resource Center, the Ramsey County Attorney's Office, and the U.S. Attorney's Office in the investigation. With all hands on deck, it was discovered that the defendant had been manufacturing child pornography for years. The Project Safe Childhood coalition in Minnesota was ultimately able to rescue several boys from continuing abuse and exploitation.

On December 4–6, 2006, some 750 participants gathered in Washington, DC, for the 2006 Project Safe Childhood (PSC) National Conference. Attendees included U.S. Attorneys from 95 districts, members of the 46 Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces, as well as local, State, and Federal law enforcement partners from across the Nation. Participants attended programs on topics such as strategic planning and partnerships, the legal challenges of child pornography trials, advocating for victims of online child exploitation, and the use of investigative forensics. In addition, conference participants received copies of OJJDP's new Portable Guide publication Use of Computers in the Sexual Exploitation of Children (Second Edition), which details best practices for investigations involving computer evidence.

Project Safe Childhood is implemented through a partnership of U.S. Attorneys; ICAC Task Forces; Federal partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement; the U.S. Marshals; advocacy organizations such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; and other State and local law enforcement officials in each district. The Project's goal is to investigate and prosecute crimes against children facilitated through the Internet or other electronic media and communications devices. Other aspects of the program include increased Federal involvement in child pornography and enticement cases; training of Federal, State, and local law enforcement on investigating and prosecuting computer-facilitated crimes against children; and community awareness and educational programs.

The purpose of the ICAC program is to help State and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to cyberenticement and child pornography cases. The program started in 1998 with 10 Task Forces dedicated to investigating and prosecuting cases of cyberexploitation. The program now supports 46 Task Forces across the country.

The Task Forces have played a critical role in stopping Internet criminal activity targeting children. Since the inception of the program…ICAC Task Forces have made more than 7,300 arrests. In 2005 alone, ICAC investigations led to more than 1,600 arrests and more than 6,000 forensic examinations.

As part of their efforts to combat crimes against children, the individual State and regional ICAC Task Forces provide training and technical assistance to their Project Safe Childhood task force partners on the local level. In addition, the national ICAC Training and Technical Assistance Program trains prosecutors and investigators on best practices for handling child exploitation cases.

For more information on Project Safe Childhood, go to www.projectsafechildhood.gov/
To order Use of Computers in the Sexual Exploitation of Children, go to www.puborder.ncjrs.gov (search for NCJ 214167).