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,…

This $500,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women supports the Puerto Rico Department of Justice's implementation of the Local Law Enforcement Grants for Enforcement of Cybercrimes Program (CFDA 16.060). The funding will enable the agency to: 1) provide training to law enforcement personnel and prosecutors on handling cybercrime cases against individuals; 2) disseminate public education on cybercrimes with a focus on gender-based violence and domestic violence, including outreach to youth; 3) hire two investigation agents and an office systems assistant to enhance cybercrime response capacity; and 4) establish a Coordinated Community Response (CCR) team dedicated to addressing cybercrimes against individuals. The 36-month award period runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027. The MOU partner Casa Protegida Julia de Burgos will serve as the victim service provider for this project.

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 cybercrime enforcement grant award, the puerto rico department of justice will implement purpose areas 1, 2, 4, and 5 to provide training to law enforcement personnel and prosecutors as we well as provide education on cybercrimes to the public throughout puerto rico. The MOU partner for this project is casa protegida julia DE burgos (casa julia) and will serve as the victim service provider. The project will: 1) provide training to law enforcement personnel and prosecutors on cybercrimes against individuals including the handling of cybercrimes cases; 2) disseminate information to the public on cybercrimes against individuals with a focus on intersectionality with gender-based violence and domestic violence including education for youth; 3) hire two investigation agents to fill a GAP in available personnel during nights, weekends, and holidays; 4) hire an office systems assistant to help coordinate training with partnerships; and 5) create a coordinated community response (CCR) team dedicated to cybercrimes against individuals. The timing for performance of this award is 36 months.