ONLINE CHILD EXPLOITATION INVESTIGATIONS: CYBERTIP 101 & BASIC UNDERCOVER CHAT OVERVIEW

Instruction will cover both Reactive and Proactive investigative measures for successful prosecution of offenders who prey on children. This training provides cyber investigators, especially affiliates of the Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, tools and techniques necessary to develop an effective response to technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation and internet crimes against children. Instruction is designed in strict compliance with ICAC national standards.

TRAINING VENUE:

Mesa Public Safety Training Facility (Main Amphitheater)

3260 North 40th Street, Mesa, AZ, 85142

TRAINING DATES:

Monday, April 10th – Thursday, April 13th, 2023, from 8am – 5pm each day (Lunch on your own)

WHO CAN ATTEND?

This training is open to any sworn law enforcement officer, professional/civilian staff member employed by a police department or prosecuting authority, or prosecutor who is an official ICAC task force affiliate, especially those recently assigned to work online child exploitation cases dealing with the Possession, Distribution or Production of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), or cases where adults are grooming children online to solicit CSAM or meetings for sex. Affiliation with an ICAC task force is recommended as the training is tailored to working leads distributed by entities governing the ICAC program.

Any departments/agencies sending attendees residing outside of the local commuting area are responsible for travel, lodging and per diem expenses associated with attendance.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS / LEVEL OF PROFICIENCY

While those with limited computer proficiency may attend, these cases are technologically intensive and require a strong aptitude for the rapidly changing and dynamic field of internet related crime, computer networking, and basic digital forensics. Attendees should have the ability to use and understand specialized hi-tech software programs and hardware for child exploitation investigations.

TECHNOLOGY CONSIDERATIONS

It is strongly recommended that all attendees have a dedicated cell phone and/or a laptop computer that will be used for these specific types of cases. These devices should be independent of department networks and clear of any identifiable means of being traced back to your sponsoring agency.

Access to a WiFi device (Ex: MiFi) for the duration of the course is highly recommended. While arrangements are being made for internet access for these courses, having multiple available options for connections is optimal, and recommended.

Have ADMINISTRATIVE rights for the devices so that the installation of specific tools is not prevented.

COURSE AGENDA

CyberTips 101, Case Management, Effective Methods, Legal Safeguards, UC Chat Basics): This will be an overview of what a CyberTip is; meeting the criteria for being able to work a CyberTip based on CEOS Guidelines; Documentation; Review; Legal Process to the Identification of a possible offender; Surveillance requirements and variables to consider for a search warrant vs. a knock & talk; Investigative integrity for proactive UC chat cases. The course will end with all on scene considerations and follow up requirements for a BEST PRACTICES approach to these types of Investigations.

Live Undercover Chat Exposure: This will be an overview of embarking on Undercover Chat operations. Topics will include statistics surrounding online solicitations; equipment requirements; following proper ICAC Standards; legal considerations; the establishment of an undercover identity; and the importance of deconfliction. Students will engage in live chat with potential targets.

INSTRUCTORS

The instructors are current ICAC affiliated professionals who investigate child exploitation and promote legislative changes dealing with these violations. They respect and abide by ICAC standards.

Brandon Poor has been with the Grand Prairie (Texas) Police Department since 2006. Brandon has a Bachelor of Music from Texas Christian University and a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music. Brandon joined the Domestic Crimes Unit in 2014 and investigated Crimes Against Children until 2016. During that time, he investigated sexual and physical abuse cases against children, as well as child homicide and death cases. In 2016, Brandon was assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, the first at Grand Prairie Police Department. As a member of the Northern Texas ICAC Task Force and FBI Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force, Brandon has investigated offenses of child pornography, solicitation/enticement, and other offenses involving the exploitation of children. Brandon is also a certified forensic computer and cell phone examiner and has conducted hundreds of digital forensic examinations for ICAC cases, as well as many others. Brandon teaches child exploitative investigation techniques and child exploitation presentations to professionals around the US and abroad.

Tony Godwin has been employed by the Garland (Texas) Police Department for 28 years and is currently assigned to the Northern Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICACTF) where he has served since 2005. Tony is responsible for the investigation of child molestation cases involving strangers, child sexual assault cases involving strangers, child pornography, and the internet solicitation of children for sexual purposes. Tony has conducted more than 2,100 criminal investigations as the primary Detective into offenses related to the exploitation of children. Tony is a certified computer and cell phone forensic examiner and has conducted joint criminal investigations while assisting the FBI, The US Postal, the DHS, the USSS and other local Law Enforcement agencies to combat child exploitation and child pornography on the World Wide Web. Tony teaches child exploitative investigation techniques and child exploitation presentations to professionals throughout the US and abroad.

Class capacity is limited. Please register for attendance through EventBrite.

Any questions, please contact Sergeant William Coffey, Mesa Police Department, William.Coffey@MesaAz.gov - Desk: 480-644-2016

For questions about the Hope Foundation contact Jonathan Lines, Chief Ops Director at Jlines@doterrahope.org Phone: 540-460-2599

doTERRA Healing Hands/Hope Foundation recognizes the vital role of law enforcement in combatting the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children. The Hope Action Plan supports our law enforcement professionals who protect our communities from those who prey on the vulnerable. Hope is honored to provide this training to our law enforcement heroes.

Online Child Exploitation Investigations - Cybertips & UC Chat Overview

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