Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Computer Forensic Vehicle Has Arrived

The Salinas Police Department is excited to announce the City of Salinas has received our new Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Computer Forensic Vehicle. The Salinas Police Department was awarded a $200,000 grant to purchase the mobile computer forensic vehicle as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The Silicon Valley (San Jose PD) ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) Task Force Program is a task force organized under the National ICAC Task Force. The program is currently composed of 61 regional Task Force agencies and is funded by the United States Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

ICAC helps state and local law enforcement agencies develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and Internet crimes against children. This help encompasses forensic and investigative components, training and technical assistance, victim services, and community education.

The ICAC program was developed in response to the increasing number of children and teenagers using the Internet and other technology, the proliferation of child sexual abuse images available electronically, and the heightened online activity by predators seeking unsupervised contact with potential underage victims. Salinas Police and ICAC member organizations understand that arrests alone cannot resolve the problem of technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and recognizing this the ICAC program is also dedicated to training law enforcement officers and prosecutors, as well as educating parents and youth about the potential dangers of online activity.

The Mobile Forensic Vehicle was designed and built to Salinas Police specifications. The vehicle has various computer forensic tools and an interview room with audio/visual recording capabilities. The total purchase price of the vehicle with equipment and installation was $200,000. The vehicle is a multi-disciplined tool available for all SPD field operations and is available as a regional asset.

This grant reflects the continuing commitment of the Salinas Police Department to work in partnership with our community and with local, state, and federal collaborators to prevent crime, improve service to crime victims and their families, and our entire community.