Justice Department Announces Creation of 43 New Assistant United States Attorney Positions for Project Safe Childhood

WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced today the distribution of $5 million in new funds to support Project Safe Childhood, the Department’s initiative that combats technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. The money will fund 43 new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions across the nation to prosecute these offenses, which remain a high priority for the Department of Justice.

Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip announced the new positions today, saying: “Anyone who uses the Internet to prey on children will become the primary target of law enforcement. These additional resources back up this commitment.” Filip made the announcement in visits to the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in Charlotte, N.C., and Lexington, Ky. Both offices received one of the newly created positions, which were awarded on a competitive basis among the many districts with demonstrated records of successfully prosecuting sexual crimes against children. No district was awarded more than one new position.

This announcement was made as part of Project Safe Childhood. In February 2006, the Department of Justice launched the Project, which is a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.