Maryland Child Pornography Investigative Agencies
In Maryland, child pornography charges are taken extremely seriously by the various local, state and federal law enforcement agencies operating within and across state lines. If you have been charged with any child pornography-related offense, it is crucial that you contact a Maryland child pornography lawyer as soon as possible. Your attorney can review your case in light of the allegations and work to help you build an effective defense. This page gives a basic breakdown of various law enforcement and investigative agencies that may be involved in any state or federal child pornography investigations.
If you are in need of urgent assistance or information, please call our firm today and conduct your free initial consultation with a Maryland child pornography attorney.
State Investigative Agencies
To assist local and county law authorities, members of the Maryland State Police’s Computer Crimes Division also work with all jurisdictions to pursue those who allegedly produce, distribute, or possess child pornography. The State Police also maintain Maryland’s Sex Offender Registry.
Federal Investigative Agencies
All of the following U.S. government law enforcement organizations can be a part of any child pornography investigation, depending on the jurisdiction affected, or if called upon by another state or local agency for assistance.
The U.S. Department of Criminal Justice (DOJ)
The DOJ is the primary administrator of all federal criminal investigations and prosecutions. It usually exercises its authority as lead prosecutor in many federal child pornography cases in which the geographic scope of authority extends beyond local or state borders.
In its efforts to enforce federal laws relative to child exploitation and obscenity, the primary DOJ investigative unit is its Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) and its High Tech Investigative Unit (HTIU). Though CEOS and HTIU are under the direct purview of the DOJ, many of their investigative resources involve the FBI, other federal investigative agencies, and specialized multi-jurisdictional task forces. The DOJ’s SMART division administers and registers convicted sex offenders, monitors registrants, and maintains the National Sex Offender Registry.
The following federal investigative units, unless otherwise noted, are part of the DOJ’s overall Criminal Investigative Division:
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
This is the U.S. government’s primary law enforcement and investigative bureau. It works with state, local, and other federal agencies, including the DOJ’s CEOS and HTU offices. The FBI also works with many foreign governments and INTERPOL.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
The DHS coordinates a multitude of investigations with many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. and the world to target child predation and pornography through its Operation Predator campaign. As an outgrowth of the War on Terror, DHS can become the lead investigative unit in any federal or state case if suspects’ criminal actions are believed to pose a danger to the nation’s security.
U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
This agency was formerly known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service until 2002, when the INS was dissolved, and many of its duties were absorbed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Two sub-agencies of the DHS now assist in investigating crimes associated with child predation, such as enterprise prostitution, child pornography, and human trafficking of underage children. These agencies are part of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which deals with immigration issues and investigations at our national borders, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which performs the same functions within U.S. borders. Their work is primarily focused on the importation of underage foreign nationals for the purposes of child pornography.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
This is a private, non-profit organization that was established in 1984 by an act of Congress. The NCMEC is an information clearinghouse and resource for parents, children, law enforcement agencies, schools, and communities in locating missing children. It also raises public understanding in the prevention of child abductions, sexual abuse and pornography, and works closely with local, state, and federal law enforcement in awareness campaigns.
Multijurisdictional Child Pornography Investigations
These criminal investigative enterprises are conducted through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP). Agencies that typically investigate these crimes include the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), as well as state and local law enforcement.
The Maryland/DC ICAC Task Force
This task force is comprised of 35 law enforcement agencies from around the state, including the Maryland State Police’s Computer Crimes Division. The task force receives federal, state, and local funds.
Contact a Maryland Child Pornography Attorney Today
If you have received child pornography charges, contact the child pornography attorneys at our law firm today to learn about your options. Our lawyers understand how stressful these situations can be and are able to lend compassionate, dedicated service to clients who need our help.