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 County of Sarpy, Nebraska 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 project, which commenced on October 1, 2024, aims to address cybercrimes against vulnerable individuals in Nebraska. Key activities include: 1) training law enforcement officers as first responders to cyber-enabled crimes; 2) training investigators on digital forensic evidence recovery and analysis; 3) purchasing investigative technologies such as data storage, digital forensic workstations, and software; 4) providing community outreach and education; and 5) delivering direct victim assistance to address the emotional, legal, and financial impacts of cybercrimes. The project will also advance equity as an OVW priority area. Sarpy County is collaborating with the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Heartland Family Service, which will serve as the victim service provider, to implement the grant.

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 county of sarpy will implement purpose areas 1 and 2 to address cybercrimes against vulnerable individuals in nebraska. The MOU partners for this project include the university of nebraska at omaha and heartland family service who will serve as the victim service provider. The project will: 1) train law enforcement officers as first responders to crimes with a cyber component; 2) train investigators on complex knowledge required to recover and analyze digital forensic evidence from a variety of devices; 3) purchase additional investigative technologies such as data storage, digital forensic workstations, and software; 4) provide community outreach and education; and 5) provide direct victim assistance to address the emotional, legal, and financial impacts of the crime. The project will also address the OVW priority area to advance equity. The timing for performance of this award is 36 months.