Current issues confronting well-established computer-assisted child exploitation and computer crime task forces

Over the past five years, a large number of agencies have developed specialized units to deal with high technology crimes and Internet crimes against children. The United States currently funds approximately 45 Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces. This article talks about some of the issues confronting established Internet crimes against children and high technology crime units and examines approaches to their resolution. First, the tension between forensics and investigations is discussed. With the first computer forensic laboratory being accredited by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB), pressure to split the functions is increasing attention to unit functions (Casey, 2004; Ferraro and Casey, 2004a). Next, the article addresses the continued confusion over obtaining information from Internet service providers. The third issue discussed is the burgeoning problem of storing and returning evidence years after its seizure. In some cases the courts order return of evidence containing contraband, and often impose arduous duties on the unit personnel that are more akin to what a computer technician at a private shop would perform under contract than what law enforcement personnel should do to accommodate the owner of evidence to facilitate its return (Ferraro and Casey, 2004a).