Child Pornography: - Center for Problem-Oriented Policing

Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section
United States Department of Justice
Another federal program specifically dedicated to combating the sexual exploitation of
children is the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the US Department of
Justice. Established in 1987 to assist in prosecuting those who sexually exploit children, CEOS
focuses on individuals who
• possess, manufacture, or distribute child pornography
• travel interstate or internationally to sexually abuse children
• abuse children on federal and Indian lands
• transport obscene materials in interstate or foreign commerce 471
| Model Approaches
Recently three key law-enforcement approaches have emerged as models to combat child
sexual exploitation. They are the special task force, strike force, and law-enforcement
network. 472 These three models offer law-enforcement agencies a range of investigative tools
and case-management techniques. The apparent success of individual programs that have
embraced these model approaches, or modified aspects of these model approaches to meet
their local needs, to increase their prosecution and conviction rates demonstrates that the criminal-justice
system can do more to effectively respond to child sexual exploitation.
Special Task Forces
One model approach adopted by law-enforcement agencies nationwide is the formation and
maintenance of special task forces dedicated to the investigation and prosecution of all forms
of child sexual exploitation including child pornography. These special task forces are composed
of a standing team of experts working at a centralized location or facility. 473 Each agent
specializes in some aspect of the child-sexual-exploitation case, and this specialization includes
victim services. 474 This model is most likely to develop and succeed in jurisdictions
with a steady load of child-sexual-exploitation cases—an environment that permits agencies
to support the significant personnel and equipment requirements needed to maintain a dedicated
unit. 475
Characteristics of Special Task Forces
Centralized Location
Standing Team of Experts
Specialized Staffing
Steady Caseload
Victim Services
Multijurisdictional (federal, state, and municipal)
CHILD PORNOGRAPHY: THE CRIMINAL-JUSTICE-SYSTEM RESPONSE - 47