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MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING - NORTH FLORIDA INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN TASK FORCE NORTH FLORIDA INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN TASK FORCE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered into between the City of Gainesville and the various federal, state and local law enforcement agencies that have signed on to this document. PURPOSE The purpose of this MOU is to formalize working relationships between participating agencies to achieve maximum cooperation in a combined law enforcement effort aimed at combating Internet and technology crimes against children in the State of Florida and nationwide. By signing this MOU, participants are agreeing to join the North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children for the purpose of promoting a coordinated effort in investigating and prosecuting said crimes. This MOU is not intended, and should not be construed, to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or otherwise by any third party against the parties, the United States, or the officers, employees, agents, or other associated personnel thereof. North Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (NFLICAC) With the advent of the Internet and the rapid advancement of computers and technology, criminals are able to victimize adults, children, businesses, organizations, etc. • in an environment that affords them complete anonymity. This ability to cross jurisdictions in a medium which is advancing in technology faster than law enforcement agencies can keep up, and the cost in keeping up with these technological advances in an environment which is subject to budget constraints, requires a multi jurisdictional and multi-agency approach. The City of Gainesville Police Department has entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) to address these issues and participate locally and nationally in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of investigations and prosecutions of Internet and technology crimes in north Florida by providing such resources as expertise, equipment, training, and investigative and prosecutorial support. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES NFLICAC NFLICAC's goals are to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of investigations and prosecutions of Internet crimes against children (ICAC) offenses, and to increase public awareness and prevention of ICAC offenses. NFLICAC's objectives are to: (1) Increase the investigative capabilities of law enforcement officers in the detection, investigation of ICAC offenses and the apprehension of ICAC offenders; (2) Conduct proactive and reactive ICAC investigations; (3) Increase the number of ICAC Page 1 of 3 state and federal offenses being prosecuted in northern Florida; (4) Create a multi-agency is task force response to ICAC offenses in northern Florida; (5) Enhance the nationwide response to ICAC offenses; and (6) Develop and deliver ICAC public awareness and prevention programs. POLICY AND DIRECTION All participants acknowledge that the Task Force is a joint operation in which all agencies act as partners. The chain of command and supervision of the Gainesville Police Department, Investigations Bureau is responsible for the policy and general direction of the Task Force. The Task Force coordinator will periodically contact supervisors and investigators from other participating agencies to keep them informed of training opportunities, unusual circumstances, problems and successes of the Task Force. The policy and direction of NFLICAC will be consistent with and governed by its goals and objectives. Activities of the ICAC Task Force are further governed by the Operational and Investigative standards of the United States Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Member agencies must understand and comply with the standards, these standards are proprietary to the National ICAC Working Group. A copy of these standards has been provided to each participating agency executing this agreement by the Gainesville Police Department. CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION • It is understood that any confidential information pertaining to investigations of Internet and technology crimes will be held in the strictest confidence, and will only be shared with participating NFLICAC task force members or other law enforcement agencies where necessary with the approval of the agency that authored the record or produced the information or as otherwise required by federal or Florida law. Any confidential information disclosed to NFLICAC task force members or other law enforcement agencies shall be disclosed in a manner consistent with protections afforded under federal or Florida law. EVIDENCE Seized evidence and any other related forfeitures will be handled in a manner consistent with the policies of the case agent's agency. RECORDS AND REPORTS Each task force member will maintain their own agency records and reports. To the extent possible, all investigative information will be available to each of the participating law enforcement agencies as it pertains to investigations of Internet and technology crimes with the approval of the agency that authored the record or report. The Agencies shall collect and maintain accurate records pertaining to prevention, education, • and enforcement activities, and forward detailed informational reports on a monthly basis Page 2 of 3 in a format prescribed by the Task Force Coordinator and concurred with by the participant agencies. MEDIA RELATIONS Task force members will coordinate all press releases/announcements with the other involved agencies. LIABILITY Subject to the provisions of § 768.28, F.S., or federal equivalent, as is appropriate to the agency, each agency each agency shall assume the responsibility and liability, if any, for the acts and omissions of its own officers, agents or employees in connection with the performance of their official duties under this MOU. MODIFICATIONS TO AGREEMENT This agreement may be modified upon the mutual written agreement of the parties. TERM OF AGREEMENT • It is agreed that this MOU will be in force from the date of the signing of this document until September 30, 2006. The MOU may be terminated at any time by a participating agency by delivering a written notice of termination to the City of Gainesville who will in turn notify all other participating agencies. An agency's termination of its involvement in NFLICAC will not negate the remaining agencies'. participation and agreement under the MOU. Should any intended law enforcement activity conducted pursuant to this MOU conflict with any statute, regulation, or agency policy, the aforementioned statute, regulation, or agency policy shall take precedence and the NFLICAC task force shall be so notified. CLEARWATER POLICE DEPARTMENT Name D to Title Page 3 of 3