Legislature(2009 - 2010)BUTROVICH 205
03/23/2009 01:30 PM Senate JUDICIARY
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Alaska Internet Crimes Against Children | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
JOINT MEETING
SENATE JUDICIARY STANDING COMMITTEE
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
March 23, 2009
1:33 p.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
SENATE JUDICIARY
Senator Hollis French, Chair, via teleconference
Senator Bill Wielechowski, Vice Chair
Senator Gene Therriault
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Senator Bettye Davis, Chair
Senator Joe Paskvan, Vice Chair
Senator Joe Thomas
Senator Fred Dyson, via teleconference
MEMBERS ABSENT
SENATE JUDICIARY
Senator Lesil McGuire
SENATE HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES STANDING COMMITTEE
Senator Johnny Ellis
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
Presentations: Alaska Internet Crimes Against Children Task
Force
HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record.
WITNESS REGISTER
DEREK DEGRAAF, Sergeant
Alaska State Troopers
Department of Public Safety
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented overviews on the Alaska Internet
Crimes Against Children Task Force on behalf of Detective
Sergeant Tidler with the Anchorage Police Department, and from
the perspective of an Alaska State Trooper.
RON TIDLER, Detective Sergeant
Cyber Crimes Unit
Anchorage Police Department
Municipality of Anchorage
Anchorage AK
POSITION STATEMENT: Provided information related to the Alaska
Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force via teleconference.
ACTION NARRATIVE
1:33:41 PM
CO-CHAIR BETTYE DAVIS called the joint meeting of the Senate
Judiciary Standing Committee and the Senate Health and Social
Services Standing Committee to order at 1:33 p.m. Present at the
call to order were Senators Paskvan, Thomas, Wielechowski and
Davis. Senator Therriault arrived soon thereafter. Senators
French and Dyson attended via teleconference.
^ALASKA INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
1:35:25 PM
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI announced the business before the
committees is to hear a presentation on Internet crimes against
children.
DEREK DEGRAAF, Sergeant, Computer and Financial Crime Unit,
Alaska State Troopers (AST), Department of Public Safety,
introduced himself and explained that he is delivering the first
presentation on behalf of Detective Sergeant Tidler who is with
the Anchorage Police Department Cyber Crimes Unit.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF related that when the Alaska Internet Crimes
Against Children Task Force (ICAC) was created in 2008 the
initial funding included a $300,000 18-month grant to APD. The
funds were used to enlist other police departments and to
provide money for equipment, training and prosecution. Prior to
2008, Alaska received minor funding as an affiliate of the
Seattle ICAC Task Force. Currently every state in the nation has
an ICAC task force, but Alaska has unique challenges due to its
size and geography.
The Alaska ICAC partners with several federal agencies to
provide services, investigations, and resource pooling
particularly through the Project Safe Childhood Program. These
agencies include Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the
FBI, U.S. postal inspectors, and military investigators.
State affiliates include the Alaska Bureau of Investigation,
which is part of the Trooper division; the Department of
Corrections; district attorney offices in various locations; the
University of Alaska Anchorage and the University of Alaska
Fairbanks; and police departments from Fairbanks, Kodiak, Sitka,
Kenai, Soldotna, Unalaska and Juneau.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF displayed a three-page chart of 2008 statistics
showing the documented complaints since the Alaska task force
was created. The different types of cases that have been
investigated include traveler; enticement; obscenity directed
toward minors; child prostitution; and child pornography with
the subcategories of manufacture, distribution, and possession.
Year-to-date totals for each type of case are included in the
chart. He highlighted the fact that possession of child
pornography and distribution of child pornography represent a
preponderance of cases worked in 2008.
1:40:06 PM
SENATOR THERRIAULT joined the meeting.
Page 2 data shows case dispositions and referrals for federal
state and local prosecution. Also included is information on
court actions including subpoenas or court orders and search
warrants. In 2008 over 100 search warrants were served in the
state for cases relating to ICAC-type crimes. Almost exclusively
federal partners assisted local law enforcement with subpoenas
for records from Internet providers such as GCI or ACS. These
are required as part of an investigation.
Page 3 data shows the forensic computer examinations conducted
on electronic media that has been seized. Last year technical
support was rendered 53 times and 177 forensic exams were
conducted. The chart also contains training statistics for local
law enforcement and prosecutors as well as the number of
community outreach presentations that were given. Finally,
information is provided on task force probation officer activity
which includes home visits and computer searches to determine
whether known sex offenders are following their conditions of
probation.
In 2008 several probation officers were trained to capture data
from computers using software loaded on a thumb drive. They
conducted 223 home visits and searched 26 computers looking at
temporary Internet files and saved pictures. Alaska ICAC
training began at the Microsoft campus in Seattle Washington
using classroom experiences and webcams. He noted that in Alaska
in particular the Internet has made the world much smaller, but
it wasn't until 2005 that this state passed the first law
related to computers, communication on computers, and the
Internet. AS 11.41.452 - Online enticement of a minor and AS
11.61.128 - Electronic distribution of indecent material to
minors were added to the statutes and became effective on
11/28/2005.
The training for prosecutors and investigators includes:
prosecutorial training; team-based training programs for
investigators, examiners, and prosecutors; and participation in
mock trials. This last year APD trained one examiner, AST
trained one investigator, and a DA prosecutor was trained using
the team concept. This last year saw the first jury conviction
under the Alaska on-line enticement statute. The suspect
solicited minors under the age of 16 for sex and he
electronically transmitted indecent images. The minors actually
were undercover investigators with APD. On 12/8/08 an Anchorage
jury found James Clifton Moore, age 42, guilty on two counts of
online enticement of a minor and one count of electronic
distribution of indecent material to a minor. Significantly, the
judge publicly stated that the investigators and prosecutors
followed and met the national ICAC guidelines.
1:45:13 PM
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked if that case related to the individual
who flew to Alaska after conducting an online solicitation from
out of state.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF answered no, but he will talk about that case
later in the presentation.
He highlighted that 70 percent of sexual solicitations occur on
home computers; 22 percent occur at someone else's home; 4
percent occur on a school computer; and 3 percent are on a
library computer. Obviously, he said, kids are most at risk at
home using their own computers. 65 percent of these contacts
took place in chat rooms and 24 percent in instant messaging
programs such as AOL, ICQ, Yahoo, and MSN. These programs have
online buddy locators and they allow file transfers as well as
voice and video live chats. Most cellular telephones are smart
phones that have digital cameras and provide easy access to the
Internet for sending and receiving photos and text messages. He
emphasized that the proliferation of child pornography is one of
the biggest issues facing Alaska law enforcement right now.
Sexual information is being shared and Alaska residents have
become involved.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF described the dynamics of peer-to-peer
investigations as complex. They begin with a properly trained
investigator going online to identify in-state suspects who are
actively sharing suspected child sexual exploitation images. The
investigator records and downloads the images and then obtains a
search warrant to identify the suspect from their Internet
service provider (ISP). The suspect is put under surveillance to
determine where they live and work and then search warrants are
obtained for those locations. Multiple agencies work together to
plan, prepare and execute these search warrants. Media evidence
that is seized undergoes forensic examination. Once child
pornography or child exploitation images are identified, the
images are sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children for identification. A district attorney or prosecutor
is then consulted to determine the appropriate charges to bring
after which the suspect is subject to arrest and prosecution.
1:49:48 PM
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked if the forensic program that is on the
thumb drive can look at sites that were visited even if the
temporary files had been deleted.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF explained that a thumb-drive examination might
take 30 minutes and is designed as an on-scene preview. If the
user is careful and the temporary files have been deleted, some
sites may be overlooked. Whereas a forensic computer examination
is an exhaustive search using sophisticated forensic software.
This can take a week or two and deleted material can be
recovered.
He cited the peer-to-peer Peacock case study and the Harvey
traveler case. Mr. Peacock pled guilty to one count of child
pornography and was sentenced just last month. A federal jury
convicted Mr. Harvey of aggravated sexual abuse, attempted
manufacture of child pornography, and possession of child
pornography. His sentencing is scheduled for next month.
SENATOR THERRIAULT questioned the decision to prosecute under
federal law and asked if there is a loophole in the state law.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF said no; it was preferable to handle the case
through the U.S. attorney's office because the federal statutes
are stronger in this area and the case officer was a federal
agent. He explained that a current issue is teen use of mobile
devices for "sexting" with people they don't know. Right now the
number of trained personnel to address this issue is limited so
their responses are more reactionary than proactive.
The U.S. attorney's office in Anchorage hosts the monthly ICAC
task force meetings. Multiple agencies come together to do case
review, to talk about things that were done right and wrong, to
discuss industry trends, and to address requests for assistance.
Pooling limited resources and using the task force approach has
been significant in helping law enforcement respond to these
crimes.
1:56:10 PM
A study by the APD cyber crimes unit showed that in January 2008
there were over 5,000 Internet protocol (IP) addresses in the
state that had suspected images of child pornography in their
file sharing software. By January 2009 that number had risen to
over 11,000 IP addresses unique to Alaska. The Hernandez Study
of convicted sex offenders puts that into perspective. It found
that over 80 percent of persons who were arrested for possession
of child pornography admitted to having committed an undisclosed
sexual abuse of a minor. Typically the abuse involved more than
one child
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked how it's known that over 11,000 IP
addresses have collected child pornography. He clarified that
he's looking at this from a privacy perspective. Although he's
happy that the police know about these IP addresses, he's
concerned that the police may be looking at everyone's IP
addresses.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF explained that these cases fall under the peer-
to-peer technology. When this free software is installed a
public folder is created on the computer and anyone in the world
can look at what's in that folder when they are online. Law
enforcement has developed software tools that allow it to look
at the data that these folks are choosing to share with the
online public.
1:59:03 PM
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked why 11,000 arrest warrants haven't been
issued.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF deferred the question for several slides.
He pointed out that Alaska has the highest per-capita use of the
Internet in the nation and is close to the highest for personal
computer ownership. Utah has the highest number of pornography
website subscribers and Alaska is second. Studies have shown
that 69 percent of children that establish close online
relationships live in small towns, rural areas, or suburbs. The
mean age of the children who were considered was 14.78 years. 71
percent have online profiles on social network websites, 69
percent receive online messages from strangers, 64 percent post
photos or videos of themselves, and 58 percent post information
about where they live. Females are more likely to post personal
photos or videos of themselves and nearly one in ten have posted
their cell phone number online. 20 percent of teens report being
bullied online and this figure is on the rise.
On average children/teens use the Internet about five hours per
week. 80 percent use the Internet for homework, 70 percent to
send email, 69 percent to play games, 50 percent to listen to
music and 42 percent for chatting and instant messaging. With
respect to online victimization, 1 in 3 is exposed to unwanted
sexual material and 1 in 7 receives a sexual solicitation by a
stranger. 45 million children between the ages of 10 and 17
years use the Internet, and 60 percent have received an email or
instant message from someone they didn't know.
According to the U.S. attorney general's cyber crimes unit, 20
percent of children say that their parents do not supervise
computer use, 52 percent say their parents moderately supervise
their computer use, 71 percent say their parents stopped
watching them after they reached age 14, and 62 percent of teens
say their parents know little or nothing about the Internet or
computers.
MySpace and Facebook are two popular social networking sites
used by children/teens. Law enforcement gave presentations about
MySpace use to random audiences in Anchorage, Mat-Su Valley and
Bethel and found that audience members knew some of the children
in the photos. These postings are potentially there forever with
no expectation of privacy. A number of other social networking
websites popular with Alaskan children judge compatibility and
rate looks. Well over 2,000 teens in the Anchorage and Mat-Su
area have registered on these sites. Some of the pictures that
have been posted would be disheartening to a parent to see and
offenders have free rein to look at the posted information, he
said.
2:03:19 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN said if member's computers will be added to the
11,000 IP addresses that have accessed pornographic material if
they were to visit the sites mentioned in the previous slide.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF explained that those aren't pornographic sites;
they're online social networking sites. The IP addresses that
had child pornography were using file-sharing software.
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if child pornography overlaps with those
social networking sites.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF replied the numbers do not overlap. Child
pornography images have been posted to those social networking
sites, but the companies are mandated to report that. Alaska law
enforcement has worked cases that have been sent from Yahoo,
Flicker, and Photobucket all of which are places that post and
host online photo albums.
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked how easy or difficult it would be to
access those sites on his office computer.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF explained that there is nothing illegal about
accessing the site or creating and posting photos or profiles.
Anyone can do that but the state web filter might disallow it.
2:06:21 PM
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI asked if any states have taken action to
limit what is posted to these sites.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF said the National Center for Missing and
Exploited Children has been stonewalled in its efforts to get
these sites to install filters that limit some of the material
that's sent or received. Some companies tout strict requirements
for users, but there is no way to police that.
According to the British-based Internet Watch Foundation,
Internet-based child pornography is becoming more brutal and
graphic. Sometimes images of infants are posted. More than half
of the child pornography domains are located in the U.S. and
Russia comes in second. Some Internet safety resources that are
given to parents include: netsmartz411.org, webwisekids.com,
ikeepsafe.org, wiredsafe.org, fbi.gov, childsafenet.org, and
muni.org/apd.
To combat Internet crimes ICAC emphasizes education for parents
and children, investigation, and training. These investigations
should be of top priority to all agencies that are involved and
there is continued need to focus efforts, pool resources and
dedicate personnel, equipment and money to this effort. Current
funding dedicated to this effort is inadequate and estimates are
that less than 1 percent of the offenders are targeted.
Increasing arrests alone won't solve the problem; education and
parental involvement figure heavily in the long-term solution.
He noted that ikeepsafe.org has a page specific to Alaska that
contains the governor's cautionary message to parents about
Internet risks.
2:09:20 PM
SERGEANT DEGRAAF said that in March 2009 the APD cyber crimes
unit conducted a three-day peer-to-peer training for three
Alaska State Troopers. This resulted in increased criminal
investigations and he personally knows of five that were
initiated on people living in Fairbanks, Kotzebue, Bethel, and
Anchorage.
He said that Alaska has a compelling interest in safeguarding
the physical and psychological well-being of its minors. These
children are victimized and this continues when the act is
memorialized in an image. The images are a permanent record and
the child is re-victimized every time the photo is shared.
Research shows that the use of children as subjects of
pornographic material is harmful to the child's physiological,
emotional, and mental health. The possession of child
pornography drives the industry and production will decrease if
those who possess the product are punished equally with those
who produce it, he said. Production of child pornography will
decrease if there is a drop in demand and demand will decrease
if the law punishes those who possess and view the product. The
possession of child pornography inflames the desires of
molesters and pedophiles. Preventing harm to children should be
one of the most important interests of Alaskans, Sergeant
Degraaf said.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF told members that Sergeant Tidler is online and
could respond to questions.
2:11:55 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if there is a standard for the number of
investigators that is either based on population or department
size.
DETECTIVE SERGEANT TIDLER, Cyber Crimes Unit, Anchorage Police
Department, Municipality of Anchorage, speaking via
teleconference, explained that it's a matter of how many
investigators individual departments can dedicate, but in most
cases the investigators from smaller departments fill multiple
roles. They are trained in computer forensics so they do
investigations in homicide, robbery, child abuse, and child
pornography cases.
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if there is an effort on a national level
to develop a standard number of investigators based on
population or department size.
SERGEANT TIDLER replied he hasn't heard that, but basic
investigation guidelines have been discussed and there is
emphasis on pooling resources and sharing information.
He referenced Senator Therriault's earlier question about why
11,000 arrest warrants haven't been issued and explained that it
takes a great deal of time to do each investigation. For
example, even though the Peacock case wasn't difficult and the
suspect was compliant, travel was involved and it took time to
investigate and process the evidence to come up with criminal
charges.
2:15:18 PM
SENATOR PASKVAN referenced the case disposition statistics
indicating 28 arrests in 2008 and asked the definition of
unfounded and suspended cases. He further questioned why those
numbers are so high relative to the total number of arrests.
SERGEANT TIDLER said he would give hypothetical examples. In a
divorce setting if one spouse accuses the other of possession of
child pornography, law enforcement needs to investigate the
case. If there is a determination that there is no child
pornography, the case becomes unfounded. A suspended case is one
where all investigative leads have been exhausted and the
suspect can't be charged. If an IT address had reported child
sexual exploitation images but there were no images on the
computer by the time a search warrant was executed, the case
would be suspended. It could be reopened at a later date should
additional evidence come available.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI thanked him for preparing the presentation
and asked if he had closing comments.
SERGEANT TIDLER told the committee that he was pleased to have
attended the presentation last year in Juneau with Investigator
Waters. He expressed appreciation for the legislative support
for the task force, which is in its first year. Additional
funding has been promised and they anticipate federal stimulus
funds to enhance their response to these crimes against
children.
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI said the presentation last year was very
powerful and had quite an impact. He asked if stimulus money has
been allocated to Alaska to help fight against Internet crimes
against children and if the governor has accepted those funds.
SERGEANT TIDLER explained that as the primary task force for the
state, APD was able to apply directly for the funding. Although
he doesn't believe that at this point it's up to state
government to accept or deny the funds, he would defer to the
APD financial manager.
2:19:25 PM
SENATOR THOMAS asked about the potential for recording and
tracking all computer use for convicted sex offenders so that
nothing could be erased.
SERGEANT TIDLER said he's sure it's possible but the individual
could access another computer. What does help is that convicted
sex offenders are required to register upon their release from
prison and probation officers routinely check their homes. If
their computer use is suspect the officer has the ability to do
at least a cursory examination.
2:21:14 PM
SENATOR FRENCH, attending via teleconference, asked the degree
to which there is an overlap between people who look at child
pornography online and people who are child sex offenders.
SERGEANT TIDLER said statistics from the Hernandez Study showed
that 85 percent of sex offenders who are caught in possession of
child pornography have had contact offenses. He said he believes
that an individual's psyche undergoes a change when they look at
child pornography on an ongoing basis, to the extent that there
becomes a desire or need to commit the offenses about which they
are fanaticizing. "There is a definite correlation there," he
said.
2:23:07 PM
SENATOR DYSON, speaking via teleconference, recalled APD asked
for help several years ago to expedite administrative search
warrants to get physical addresses of potential offenders from
IP addresses. He asked if more help is needed.
SERGEANT TIDLER replied they do need more help. They still have
to rely on their federal partners to get administrative
subpoenas. There isn't a state law that allows state law
enforcement to get information from companies that do business
within the state but are located outside the state.
SENATOR DYSON asked him to pass along to Senator French the
specifics of what more legislators can do to help.
SENATOR PASKVAN asked if the Alaska State Troopers also have a
cyber crimes division.
2:25:01 PM
SERGEANT DEGRAAF said his presentation will address that.
CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI commented on the segue and asked him to begin
his presentation.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF explained that the Alaska State Troopers has
jurisdiction over the Alaska Bureau of Investigation (ABI). The
computer and financial crime unit is within ABI and he and three
investigators are tasked with investigating all financial and
technology related crimes statewide.
The top issue for AST with respect to participation in the ICAC
task force is the peer-to-peer file sharing programs such as
LimeWire, BearShare and Phex. He displayed a Google Earth map
showing villages and communities throughout the state that in
the past year are known to have computers that have possessed
and have shared child pornography images using free software.
Each red dot represents a particular geographic area that
contains a number of records within the area. He zeroed in on
Anchorage to show the astonishing number of IP addresses that in
the past year are known to have possessed and shared child
pornography images. Fairbanks, Juneau and Kodiak also had large
numbers. The individuals can be identified once he obtains
search warrants through the local Internet providers.
SENATOR THERRIAULT pointed out that he wouldn't be able to
identify a particular individual if the file sharing was done at
the library.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF acknowledged that's true. Initially he only
knows a geographic location, but once he serves the provider
with a warrant he learns who is paying the bill for that
particular IP address. If it's a coffee shop, the library, or a
school the lead is difficult to impossible to follow, but most
of the cases they've worked recently have come back to a
residence. That's because file sharing requires not only the
software but also sufficient bandwidth to download and upload
the data.
2:28:47 PM
SENATOR THERRIAULT asked if the bandwidth at most Wi-Fi hot
spots is generally insufficient.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF replied most hot spots have sufficient
bandwidth speed; it's just that the task force hasn't come
across many of those cases yet. He believes they're out there.
2:29:30 PM
SENATOR THOMAS asked if he's saying that school computers aren't
blocked from most if not all of these suspect sites.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF said he knows that schools and state government
have filters that do a fairly good job of blocking contact with
these networks, but they aren't foolproof.
SENATOR THOMAS asked about the potential for recording and
tracking all computer use of convicted sex offenders or child
pornographers so that nothing could be erased. He's been told
that the offender might be using someone else's computer, but he
has difficulty believing that a neighbor or even a friend of a
sex offender or child pornographer would allow extended use of
their personal computer without knowing what the offender was
doing.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF said he agrees, but it only takes a couple
hundred dollars to buy a second computer so you'd be relying on
an offender to have integrity and follow the rules for a
tracking and recording device to work. Monitoring technology
works for people convicted of a DUI who are required to blow
into a breathalyzer in order to start their car because buying a
second car to circumvent the check is too expensive for most
people to consider. Buying a second computer to circumvent being
monitored is not that difficult or expensive.
2:31:54 PM
SERGEANT DEGRAAF displayed a map indicating that Barrow also has
some IP addresses that have recorded child pornography. It's a
statewide problem and literally thousands of leads have come in,
he said. Last year the Legislature funded long-term non-
permanent positions for an investigator and a criminal justice
technician for CFCU, which has been helpful but their
responsibilities are great. Not only does CFCU handle both types
of crimes, it also has a mission to assist smaller police
agencies. In fact, most police agencies in the state will send
seized computers or cell phones that require forensic analysis
to AST for processing. Police departments in Anchorage,
Fairbanks and Juneau have someone to do this analysis, but most
other agencies rely on the Troopers to process evidence. AST
also provides training and support to new recruits through the
Public Safety Academy in Sitka. Due to the nature of crimes
against children and the case load, very few "white collar" or
corruption crimes are worked, he said.
2:34:16 PM
Last year when AST joined the ICAC task force they co-located
with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and have
received training in peer-to-peer investigations and forensics.
Agents from the FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service also
will move in once their offices are ready. Since joining the
task force AST has invested heavily in new software, forensic
computers, cell phone analysis tools, and server storage for
evidence. They have also conducted numerous multi-agency search
warrants, given public education presentations, and partnered
with small police departments to provide assistance and
training.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF displayed a bar graph of the number of computer
examinations the computer and financial crime unit has conducted
between 2002 and 2008. In 2005 10 examinations were done and
three years later over 70 were conducted. A subsequent graph of
ICAC child pornography cases within ABI between January 2006 and
March 2009 shows that there were over 25 cases in 2008. The
number of cases in the first quarter of 2009 is nearly the same
as the total cases in 2007. Between 2006 and 2008 there was a
400 percent increase in the number of child exploitation cases
that were investigated. In Alaska the problem is growing
exponentially. He cited examples from Palmer, Talkeetna, and
Soldotna and said they ask themselves what cases are falling
through the cracks.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF provided the following suggestions: provide ABI
with more investigators and forensic computer examiners;
separate the financial crime and computer crime unit; and
provide a more directed response to rural residents because they
aren't adequately represented by law enforcement.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF offered the following conclusions: AST believes
that ICAC is very necessary; co-location of agencies is key;
continued protection of Alaska's children with proactive
investigation is imperative; more investigators are required;
the disparity of law enforcement response to rural residents
needs to change; and progress is being made.
2:39:25 PM
Co-CHAIR DAVIS asked if the shortage of investigators is due to
a funding shortfall or a lack of trained individuals to take the
positions.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF replied it's both.
Co-CHAIR DAVIS asked if they have requests in the current
budget.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF replied he can't say specifically, but he does
know they are trying to get funding to increase the number of
investigators for both ICAC and sexual abuse of minors.
Co-CHAIR DAVIS asked if rural areas need more VPSOs or if they
need officers of higher rank.
SERGEANT DEGRAAF said he can't comment on VPSOs but AST is
trying to grow the Bureau of Investigation and that requires
heavy investment in training and equipment in a central -
probably urban - location.
SENATOR THERRIAULT tipped his hat to Senator French and said it
was he who proposed to put this in statute in 2005. That
legislation ran into trouble in Senate Finance and Senator
French agreed to add his language to my bill that was in House
Rules at the time, Senator Therriault explained. Shortly
thereafter law enforcement was able to use Senator French's
language to catch some of these guys.
CO-CHAIR WIELECHOWSKI thanked Sergeant DeGraaf for the
presentation and for all the good work he is doing to protect
the children of Alaska.
2:43:54 PM
There being no further business to come before the committee,
Co-Chair Wielechowski adjourned the meeting at 2:43 pm.
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