Since 2000, the tennessee internet crimes against children (icac) task force has worked tirelessly to investigate these crimes and prosecute predators to the fullest extent of the law

The Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention awarded the City of Knoxville a $631,577 Cooperative Agreement on October 1, 2025, under the Missing Children's Assistance program (CFDA 16.543) to enhance investigations and prosecution of child predators across Tennessee.

The award funds equipment, personnel, software licensing, certifications, and training for the Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional, multiagency response to child exploitation offenses. The task force currently coordinates 77 affiliate agencies across Tennessee and provides investigative support to non-affiliate agencies statewide. Funding enables investigators from across the state to participate in contemporary training, renew software licenses, and acquire state-of-the-art equipment to address evolving challenges in digital forensics and encryption technologies used by predators. The task force operates from Knoxville, Tennessee, and continues efforts to expand affiliate participation and strengthen collaboration among law enforcement, prosecutors, and other institutions.

Period of performance runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.

With updates in computer software systems, the ongoing development of dark websites and sophisticated encryptions, the challenge in identifying these suspects is never-ending. This award will provide funding for equipment, personnel, software licensing, certifications and training to enhance investigations and the prosecution of child predators across tennessee. The tennessee icac task force has assembled a multi-jurisdictional, multiagency response to icac offenses by utilizing federal grant funding to support state and local law enforcement agencies. The award allows investigators from across the state to participate in contemporary training, renew software licenses and acquire state-of-the-art equipment. Currently, tennessee has 77 affiliate task force agencies and assists non-affiliates from throughout the state in investigating crimes against children. The tennessee icac task force will continue to seek opportunities to expand the number of affiliate agencies, collaborate with law enforcement, prosecutors and other institutions in order to increase the investigative and operational productivity and effectiveness of protecting children.