The maine state police major crimes unit special victims or special victims unit (SVU), formerly known as the computer crimes unit, is the northernmost internet crimes against children (ICAC) task…

The Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded the Maine Department of Public Safety $369,364 under Cooperative Agreement 15PJDP25GK01579MECP on October 1, 2025, to support the Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit Special Victims Unit's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force operations. This award funds the task force's investigative and digital forensic capabilities serving the entire state of Maine as the northernmost ICAC task force in the continental United States and the state portal for referrals from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Specifically, the funding supports hiring additional investigative staff to expand task force effectiveness; modernizing and maintaining technology to process increasing volumes and complexity of digital evidence; providing advanced statewide training for law enforcement, analysts, and prosecutors; enhancing secure data storage capacity and mobile field operations; and strengthening operational response to artificial intelligence-generated child sexual abuse material and evolving technology-based threats. The award aligns with the Missing Children's Assistance program (CFDA 16.543) goal to protect missing and exploited children through prevention, investigation, and services.

Performance and administration occur in Augusta, Maine. The period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. Assistance Type: Cooperative Agreement.

The maine state police major crimes unit special victims or special victims unit (SVU), formerly known as the computer crimes unit, is the northernmost internet crimes against children (ICAC) task force in the continental united states. The unit, along with its affiliate and partner agencies, serves the entire state of maine. The unit also continues to be the portal for referrals to the entire state of maine from the national center for missing and exploited children. Through this project, SVU will fund additional investigative staff; which allows the program to align resources and better cover the demands of the unit, thereby improving task force effectiveness, as well as preventing, interdicting, investigating, and ultimately prosecuting internet crimes against children involving technology facilitated child exploitation. Specifically, the task force will: sustain and expand ICAC investigative and digital forensic capabilities; modernize and maintain technology required to process increasing volume and complexity of digital evidence; provide advanced statewide training for law enforcement, analysts, and prosecutors; enhance secure data storage capacity and mobile field operations; and strengthen operational response to artificial intelligence generated child sexual abuse material and evolving technology-based threats.