Child Rescue Act

## Summary The Child Rescue Act would require the U.S. Attorney General to create a national working group focused on improving strategies to identify and rescue children from sexual exploitation and abuse. The group would study how law enforcement can better detect offenders who both share child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and commit direct sexual crimes against children, a group referred to as "dual offenders." It would also assess resource gaps that hinder investigations, such as the surge in CyberTipline reports (over 21 million in 2020) and challenges posed by encryption tools used by offenders. The working group would gather data from federal, state, Tribal, and local agencies, develop recommendations for funding and tactics, and submit a report within one year to Congress and the Department of Justice. The goal is to strengthen victim-centric approaches, prioritize high-risk cases, and enhance collaboration between agencies and international partners to rescue children and prosecute offenders. ## Key Points - Establishment of a National Working Group: The Attorney General must form the "United States Working Group on Children in Imminent Danger of Sexual Abuse and Exploitation" within 90 days of enactment. - Comprehensive Research and Recommendations: The group will estimate the number of offenders and potential victims, evaluate law enforcement workloads, and propose strategies (e.g., prioritizing encrypted communications) and resources needed to rescue children and prosecute offenders. - Focus on Dual Offenders: Highlights research showing many CSAM offenders also commit direct sexual crimes against children, urging law enforcement to investigate these connections. - Subpoena and Information-Gathering Powers: The working group can subpoena witnesses and records, hold hearings, and access data from federal, state, and local agencies to fulfill its mission. - Victim-Centric Policing Guidance: The bill mandates recommendations for law enforcement to adopt approaches that prioritize victims’ needs, minimize trauma, and empower them during investigations. ## Impact Areas - Law Enforcement Agencies: The working group’s findings could lead to increased funding and training for ICAC Task Forces and other agencies to handle rising CSAM cases and dual-offender investigations. - Child Victims and Survivors: Improved strategies may result in faster identification and rescue of children depicted in CSAM, as well as better support during legal processes. - Technology and International Collaboration: The bill addresses challenges posed by encryption and anonymizing tools, while also emphasizing cross-border cooperation to tackle global CSAM networks and live-streamed abuse. Technical Terms Explained: - Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM): Visual content depicting children in sexual situations, replacing the term "child pornography." - CyberTipline: A reporting mechanism managed by NCMEC for the public and tech companies to flag suspected child exploitation online. - Victim-Centric: An approach prioritizing the well-being of victims, ensuring they receive compassionate support and are actively involved in justice processes. - Proactive Policing: Undercover operations targeting suspected offenders online, rather than reacting to tips alone.