Wes Hickman (202 224-5972) or Kevin Bishop (864 250-1417)

WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today announced the South Carolina Attorney General’s office will receive a $400,000 grant to support the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The funds will be used in South Carolina to establish and maintain a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary response to ICAC offences. The Task Force will bring together federal, state, and local law enforcement and child welfare organizations to: Conduct reactive and proactive ICAC investigations; Develop a prevention education program; Establish a case management system; Develop standardized protocol for interagency referrals; and, Increase forensic and investigative capacity through training and the acquisition of specialized equipment. “The internet has created a new set of challenges for protecting our children,” said Graham, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Corrections, and Victims’ Rights. “These task forces educate children and parents about the potential dangers of the Internet, and bring together experts from all levels of law enforcement to catch criminals who sexually exploit or otherwise harm innocent children.” The South Carolina ICAC Task Force was started in 1998, one of the ten original programs throughout the country. Since then, the Attorney General’s office has received over $936,000 from the U.S. Department of Justice to support this effort. Currently, there are 36 Task Forces across the United States. ####