The local law enforcement grants for enforcement of cybercrimes program (cybercrimes enforcement program) supports efforts by states, indian tribes, and units of local government to prevent,…

The Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration received a $500,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women under the Local Law Enforcement Grants for Enforcement of Cybercrimes Program (CFDA 16.060). The 36-month grant will support the state's efforts to prevent, investigate, and prosecute cybercrimes against individuals, such as harassment, stalking, extortion, and unauthorized distribution of intimate images. Key activities include: 1) Developing and certifying a cybercrime training course for law enforcement and prosecutors, 2) Providing up to six cybercrime training classes per year, and 3) Establishing a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) team to assist with project development and oversight. The University of Tennessee's Institute for Public Service will serve as a sub-grantee, providing specialized cybercrime training and technical assistance to support the initiative.

The local law enforcement grants for enforcement of cybercrimes program (cybercrimes enforcement program) supports efforts by states, indian tribes, and units of local government to prevent, enforce, and prosecute cybercrimes against individuals. Cybercrimes against individuals are defined as criminal offenses that involve the use of a computer to harass, threaten, stalk, extort, coerce, cause fear to, or intimidate an individual, or without consent distribute intimate images of an adult, except that use of a computer need not be an element of the offense. (see 34 U.S.C. 30107(a)(2)). The term computer includes a computer network and an interactive electronic device. Cybercrimes against individuals do not include the use of a computer to cause harm to a commercial entity, government agency or nonnatural person. With this initial funding, the tennessee department of finance and administration, through the office of criminal justice programs (OCJP), will implement purpose areas 1 and 2, training for law enforcement and prosecutors, to address cybercrimes against individuals throughout the state of tennessee. MOU partners include the university of tennessees law enforcement innovation center and the tennessee coalition to end domestic violence and sexual violence that will both serve as the victim service providers. In coordination with its partners, OCJP will: 1) develop and certify a cybercrimes training course for law enforcement and prosecutors focused on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting/adjudicating cybercrimes against individuals; 2) provide up to six classes per year to increase the availability of cybercrimes training to law enforcement and prosecutors; and 3) develop a coordinated community response (CCR) team to assist with the development and oversight of the project. The timing for performance of this award is 36 months.