With this award, the north dakota bureau of criminal investigation (BCI), through the north dakota office of attorney general, will continue to lead the north dakota internet crimes against children…

The Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded the North Dakota Attorney General Bureau of Criminal Investigation a cooperative agreement totaling $367,201 on October 1, 2025, under the Missing Children's Assistance program (CFDA 16.543) to continue leading the North Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

The award funds training for task force members and affiliate agencies to enhance investigative capacity in online child exploitation cases. ND ICAC forensic examiners will continue providing digital evidence recovery and analysis to document child exploitation and support prosecutions. The task force assesses and validates incoming tips to enable timely investigation responses. BCI will coordinate training for school resource officers and community partners to educate parents and students about online safety and exploitation risks. The task force, operating alongside BCI, K-9 units, and federal and local affiliates, addresses the increasing volume of investigations across North Dakota, which now exceeds 796,000 residents and has experienced significant growth in cyber-enabled crimes against children.

Performance occurs in Bismarck, North Dakota, with a period of performance from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026. The Missing Children's Assistance program supports prevention, investigation, and services for missing and exploited children, including victims of online and commercial sexual exploitation.

With this award, the north dakota bureau of criminal investigation (BCI), through the north dakota office of attorney general, will continue to lead the north dakota internet crimes against children task force (ND icac). North dakotas population continues to grow, now exceeding 796,000 residents. With this growth has come a significant increase in cyber-enabled crimes against children. The goal of the ND icac task force is to enhance the states ability to detect, investigate, apprehend, and prosecute internet predators. The task force enables law enforcement to protect children, prevent victimization through education, and hold offenders accountable. Federal funding continues to be crucial in helping ND icac achieve its goals. BCI will ensure training remains available for task force members and affiliate agencies to enhance their investigative capacity and increase the number of cases involving online child exploitation that can be proactively investigated. Icac investigators will continue to assess and validate incoming tips, enabling more timely and effective responses. Training will also be provided to school resource officers and other community partners to educate parents and students about online safety and exploitation risks. BCI, k-9 units, and federal and local affiliates continue to work closely with the ND icac task force to address the increasing volume of investigations. ND icac forensic examiners provide critical forensic analysis that enables the recovery of digital evidence documenting child exploitation. This expertise has been instrumental in protecting children and removing them from dangerous environments.