Illinois Governor Announces Creation of Internet Crimes Unit

Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich has unveiled a bold new plan to fight Internet crime. The cornerstone of the Governor's Internet Crime Initiative is a new Internet Crimes Unit, which will be dedicated solely to combating online crime, including identity theft, child pornography and drug solicitation.

"As if parents didn't have enough to worry about, now they have to worry about criminals and sex predators going after their children on the Internet too. We're not going to tolerate that," Blagojevich said. "That's why we're creating a new Internet Crimes Unit at the State Police that will approach Internet crime the same way we approach organized crime, narcotics and other major crimes. It's why we're going to toughen penalties and increase jail time for Internet criminals and sex predators. And it's why we're going to give parents a place to call when they have questions, concerns or specific information to report. I know this isn't an issue the state has to take on, but I think it would be wrong not to," Blagojevich added.

The governor's plan has four main components:

• Creating a centralized Internet Crimes Unit (ICU) under Illinois State Police authority
• Increasing penalties of Internet crime
• Designing the ICU to serve as a 'One Stop Shopping' center where the public can report suspicious online behavior and get information about Internet crime and safety
• Using the most advanced law enforcement technology available to combat Internet crime

Internet Crimes Unit
The Illinois Crimes Unit (ICU) will be comprised of ten officers, seven computer forensic investigators and eight crime analysts. The goal is to create a unique enforcement group capable of educating the public, gathering information from the private sector, coordinating investigations with other bodies and agencies of law enforcement, researching crime, proactively searching the Web for criminal activity and then performing the required forensic work to further investigative efforts and assist prosecutors in jailing offenders. The ICU will work with local, state and federal law enforcement bodies and agencies to investigate crimes reported and found through their own investigated work.

Internet Crime Penalties
Legislation will increase penalties for Internet criminals and sex predators. The proposed changes include:

• Elevating a first-time Internet stalking offense to the felony level
• Establishing an Internet Predator Investigation and Prosecution Fund
• Addressing the quantity and type of child pornography in sentencing considerations
• Making misrepresentation of a person via the Internet a criminal offense
• Adding the use of electronic communications as a factor in aggravation

'One Stop Shopping' Internet Crime Center
The Internet Crimes Unit will educate the public, provide an initial point of contact for citizen inquiries, serve as a repository for public safety information, offer statewide de-confliction for investigations, offer criminal intelligence analysis for law enforcement agencies, and provide non-traditional techniques for monitoring and preventing criminal predatory behavior and computer evidence recovery for investigations and trial preparation.

Internet Crime Law Enforcement Technology
While respecting the rights and civil liberties of individuals, the most advanced law enforcement technology, such as Riverglass, a data analysis tool currently used to combat narcotic trafficking, organized crime and terrorism, will be used to help track online criminal activity.

The Governor's Office is currently working with the Illinois State Police and proper authorities to establish the Internet Crimes Unit, and the new legislation will be submitted to the Illinois General Assembly for approval during their Fall veto session in November.