SAN DIEGO – Assemblymember Brian Maienschein announced today his success in securing $1 million from the State Budget for the San Diego Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force.
Approximately 1 in 7 children are contacted by an online predator. To combat this, the San Diego Police Department established the ICAC task force, helping law enforcement locate and arrest online child predators. The task force has been successful in rescuing countless infants, toddlers, and elementary-aged children from exploitation and abuse online.
“While most families have household rules to protect their children from engaging in inappropriate online behavior, it is crucial that law enforcement also work to keep these dangerous individuals away from our children,” said Assemblymember Brian Maienschein. “I’m proud to have secured this funding to help the San Diego Police Department continue to diligently investigate and arrest these criminals.”
Over the past two years, the task force has seen an increase in child exploitation of over 300 percent, with a record-breaking 8,161 cases processed in just 2021 alone. This drastic rise in Internet crimes demonstrates a clear need for additional resources to help the San Diego ICAC task force continue protecting children in the region.
“The Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force handles thousands of cases and referrals each year,” said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit. “This funding empowers investigators to protect our children by providing the resources to investigate, apprehend, and prosecute criminals.”
The $1 million grant secured by Assemblymember Maienschein will help the San Diego ICAC task force advance technology, update training, and hire additional investigators to continue identifying and arresting dangerous online predators.