Use of Internet for Sex Crimes - Research Paper Example

With this growing problem, what have the law enforcement agencies done to address this problem? Different researches were conducted on the activities of law enforcement agencies and other agencies involved and it revealed that the federal and state government, law enforcement agencies, different task forces and other such agencies have roles in suppressing this crime. Despite the involvement of these agencies involvement of citizens and the private sector is indispensable in solving this problem.

Law enforcement is confronted with the challenge of dealing with crimes which are not necessarily expected in criminal statutes (Wolak, Mitchell & Finkelhor, 2003). Hence, law enforcement has to ‘master technical advances,’ widen their investigative techniques, and now handle criminal cases that may be under the so-called multiple jurisdictions (2003). According to a study made by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, law enforcement has made estimated arrests of around 2,577 in the twelve months since they started in 01 July 2000 (2003).

These internet sex crimes include sexual assaults which may either be completed or attempted; use of the internet by illegal means in order to transmit materials sexual in content and to solicit minors; the production, distribution and possession of internet child pornography; webcam offenses, stalking and other related offenses (2003). The law enforcement also uses investigative resources to hunt down or find out the offenders (2003). Law enforcement has taken action in order to fight this crime of internet sex crimes especially against minors (2003).

Among the actions taken are the establishment of specialized units in the federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Funding for Internet Crimes Against Children Task