More Than 1,300 Suspected Child Sexual Predators Arrested During Operation Broken Heart

WASHNGTON, June 30, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Forces have recently arrested 1,368 suspected child predators and conducted about 2,300 community presentations on Internet safety, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) reported today.

The 61 ICAC Task Forces, funded through an OJJDP grant program, conducted Operation Broken Heart III, a coordinated investigative operation to identify and arrest suspected child sexual predators during April and May 2016.  The national crackdown targeted individuals who: (1) possess, manufacture and distribute child pornography; (2) engage in online enticement of children for sexual purposes; (3) engage in the commercial sexual exploitation of children (commonly referred to as prostitution of children); and (4) engage in child sex tourism (traveling abroad for the purpose of sexually abusing children in other countries).

"Today, mobile devices, such as smartphones, make it easier for youth to access the Internet, making them more vulnerable to online predators," said OJJDP Administrator Robert L. Listenbee. "Operation Broken Heart allows ICAC task forces and law enforcement to intensify their efforts to apprehend these predators and keep youth safe through Internet safety training and outreach."

OJJDP launched the ICAC Task Force Program in 1998, to help federal, state and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative responses to individuals who use the Internet, online communication systems or computer technology to exploit children.  To date, the ICAC Task Forces have reviewed more than 611,000 complaints of child exploitation, which resulted in the arrest of more than 66,000 individuals.  In addition, since the ICAC program's inception, more than 535,000 law enforcement officers, prosecutors and other professionals have been trained on techniques to investigative and prosecute ICAC-related cases. 

Visit the list of ICAC Task Force Commanders for more information on local cases.

About the Office of Justice Programs (OJP)

OJP, headed by Assistant Attorney General Karol V. Mason, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has six components: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the Office for Victims of Crime and the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking. More information about OJP can be found at www.ojp.gov.

SOURCE Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs

Related Links

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov