Policy Text
Revisions or additions are highlighted 1 (06/23/2025 ) ST. PETERSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT
GENERAL ORDER
Subject: DIGITAL CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN
Index as:
Chatting
Child Pornography
Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM)
Coercion
ICAC Data Systems (IDS)
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
NCMEC Peer to Peer
Production/Transmission of Child Pornography
Sexting
Sextortion
Sexually Explicit Image
Transmission of Harmful Materials to Minors
Traveling to Meet a Minor
Accreditation Standards: 43.1.5
Cross Reference: G.O. II -35, Employee Assistance Program
G.O. III -06, Juvenile Procedures
G.O. III -14, Property and Evidence
I.O. V.3:07, Human Trafficking
I.O. V.5:17, Victim’s Right/Victim Assistance Unit
CAPP SOP I -02, Organization, Responsibility and Job Descriptions
§§ 775.0847, 827.071, 827.072, 828.126, 847.0135, 847.0137, 847.0138 Florida Statutes
Replaces : New Policy
This Order serves as the guidelines and procedures for investigating digital crimes against children . It consists of:
I. Policy
II. Purpose
III. Definitions
IV. Department -Reported Digital Crimes Against Children Investigations
V. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) Tips
VI. Undercover Chat Operations
VII. Evidence Handling
VIII. ICAP Safety and Accountability Measures
I. POLICY
It is the policy of the St. Petersburg Police Department to actively investigat e technologically facilitated crimes
against children, ensuring that all investigations are property planned and co nducted pursuant to the safety of
agency members and the community as directed by the procedures established in this order.
II. PURPOSE
A. The internet and social media have become ubiquitous as part of daily life, and as such , evidence of digital crimes
has become more prevalent and necessary for criminal investigations. Interaction with digital devices creates a trail
of evidence in a wide variety of crimes. Juveniles are at an ever -increasing risk via exposure to the internet and
social media from online predators who are adept at exploiting children.
DATE OF
ISSUE EFFECTIVE DATE NUMBER
June 2025 Immediately V.3:09
Distribution: All Employees
General Order V.3:09
Revisions or additions are highlighted 2 (06/23/2025 ) B. The Department recognizes the need to maintain investigators with specialized training and equipment necessary
to conduct the type of investigation necessary in order to properl y respond to and prevent the online exploitation of
children.
C. Additionally, this order serve s to outline ways t o maintain safe and accountable practices of collecting, viewing, and
storing illegal sexually explicit material.
III. DEFINITIONS
A. Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force – The United States Department of Justice program created
to help State and local law enforcement agencies enhance their investigative response to offenders who use the
Internet, online communication systems, or other com puter technology to sexually exploit children.
B. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) – A private, nonprofit organization established in 1984
by the United States Congress. Electronic Service Providers (ESP’s) send flagged images to NC MEC which
generate cyber tips.
C. ICAC Data Systems (IDS) – The program used to manage, track, assign, forward and close tips coming from
NCMEC.
D. Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) – Images and/or videos which show a person who is a child and engaged in
or is depicted as being engaged in explicit sexual activity.
E. Coercion – Enticing or luring any person by fraud or deceit.
F. Peer -to-Peer (P2P) Investigations – A self -initiated case by a sworn member trained in accordance with the ICAC
task force guidelines to use software platform account designated by the Department of Justice.
G. Sexually Explicit Image (§ 847.001, Florida Statutes) – Any image depicting nudi ty or depicting a person engaging
in sexual conduct.
H. Sexting (§ 847.041(1) (a) , Florida Statutes ) – A minor commits the offense of section if they knowingly:
1. Uses a computer, or any other device capable of electronic data transmission or distribution, to transmit or
distribute to another minor any photograph or video of any person which depicts nudity and is harmful to minors ,
or
2. Possesses a photograph or video of any person that was transmitted or distributed by another minor which
depic ts nudity and is harmful to minors . A minor does not violate this paragraph if all of the following apply:
a. The minor did not solicit the photograph or video.
b. The minor took reasonable steps to report the photograph or video to the minor’s legal guardian or to a
school or law enforcement official.
c. The minor did not transmit or distribute the photograph or video to a third party.
IV. DEPARTMENT -REPORTED DIGITAL CRIMES AGINST CHILDREN INVESTIGATIONS
A. On Scene Investigation
The majority of digital crim es against children investigations originate as NCMEC tips received by detectives
through IDS. However, suspicion and/or evidence of digital crimes against children may be reported to police
or become evident during