34 U.S.C. § 21112: Establishment of National ICAC Task Force Program

There is established within the Department of Justice, under the general authority of the Attorney General, a National Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program (hereinafter in this subchapter referred to as the “ICAC Task Force Program”), which shall consist of a national program of State, Tribal, military, and local law enforcement task forces dedicated to developing effective responses to online enticement of children by sexual predators, child exploitation, child obscenity and pornography cases, and the identification of child victims. It is the purpose and intent of Congress that the ICAC Task Force Program established under paragraph (1) is intended to continue the ICAC Task Force Program authorized under title I of the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998, and funded under title IV of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 [ 34 U.S.C. 11291 et seq.]. The ICAC Task Force Program established under subsection (a) shall include at least 1 ICAC task force in each State. In order to maintain established capacity and continuity of investigations and prosecutions of child exploitation cases, the Attorney General, shall, in establishing the ICAC Task Force Program under subsection (a), evaluate the task forces funded under the ICAC Task Force Program to determine if those task forces are operating in an effective manner. conduct periodic reviews of the effectiveness of each ICAC task force established under this section; and have the discretion to establish a new or continue an existing task force if the Attorney General determines that such decision will enhance the effectiveness of combating child exploitation provided that the Attorney General notifies Congress in advance of any such decision and that each State maintains at least 1 ICAC task force at all times. The Attorney General shall establish national training programs to support the mission of the ICAC task forces, including the effective use of the National Internet Crimes Against Children Data System. conduct periodic reviews of the effectiveness of each training session authorized by this paragraph; and consider outside reports related to the effective use of Federal funding in making future grant awards for training. Except as provided in paragraph (2), a civil claim or criminal charge against an ICAC task force established pursuant to this section and sections 21113 and 21114 of this title, including any law enforcement agency that participates on such a task force or a director, officer, employee, or agent of such a law enforcement agency, arising from the prioritization decisions with respect to leads related to Internet crimes against children described in section 21114(8) of this title , may not be brought in any Federal or State court. engaged in intentional misconduct; or with actual malice; with gross negligence or reckless disregard to a substantial risk of causing physical injury without legal justification; or for a purpose unrelated to the performance of any responsibility or function under section 21114(8) of this title . an ICAC task force; or a law enforcement agency or a director, officer, employee, or agent of the law enforcement agency; or expand any liability otherwise imposed, or limit any defense to that liability, otherwise available under Federal or State law.