The Child Sexual Predator Crime Unit is dedicated to investigating online child predators and child pornographers who use the Internet and computers to victimize children and prosecuting any crime perpetrated or substantially facilitated using a computer, the internet, digital media, cellular phone, or any other electronic device. In part this strategy involves undercover law enforcement officers posing as children in Internet chat rooms and social networking sites. It also involves detecting, investigating, and arresting those who victimize children by creating, sharing, and distributing images of child sexual violence and exploitation. The investigators in the unit are specially trained in current technologies, tactics, and the law. They also share their expertise through educational programs and community awareness efforts.

The Unit works in coordination and cooperation with public and private entities dedicated to the detection and prevention of online child exploitation, including Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces across the country, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the Department of Justice.

The Child Sexual Predator Crime Unit’s investigators utilize state-of-the-art computer equipment and software to recover deleted files and partitions, locate and preserve digital evidence and contraband, and defeat passwords and encryption. The Anderson Police Department and the OAG’s Computer Forensics Unit has the ability to analyze many types of electronic media, including desktop and laptop computers running Windows, Macintosh, and Linux/Unix platforms; live servers (on scene and remote); digital cameras; PDAs; electronic game devices; and cell phones.

The unit prides itself on its strong partnerships and coordination with state, federal, and local law enforcement authorities.