Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section
Encyclopedia
The Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) is a section of the Criminal Division
of the United States Department of Justice
in charge of protecting the welfare of America's children and communities by enforcing federal criminal statutes relating to the exploitation of children and obscenity. Created in 1987, the section comprises approximately 15 attorneys who prosecute defendants who have violated federal child exploitation and obscenity laws and also assist the 93 United States Attorney Offices in investigations, trials, and appeals related to these offenses.
CEOS also has a number of Computer Forensic Specialist (CFS) within the High Technology Investigative Unit (HTIU) and, under the direction of a CEOS manager, they conduct online investigations and analysis of Internet technologies used to distribute obscene materials and child pornography. The CFS uses tools and investigative techniques to document web site contents, location, and other identifying information to produce concise and detailed reports. Under the supervision of a CEOS manager, conducts forensics analysis of seized computer systems, network servers, and other media to provide investigative and analytical support to prosecutors and other law enforcement personnel.
CFS's assist in implementing investigative initiatives to identify child pornography and adult obscenity offenses currently available over the Internet and help develop strategies for gathering evidence in Internet communications areas, including commercial web sites, electronic mail, Usenet newsgroups, Internet Relay Chat, instant messaging technologies, file servers, and peer to peer file sharing. CFS's also conduct and direct investigations of high technology crimes and provides technical advice to prosecutors and federal law enforcement agents.
They provide training to federal law enforcement agents, prosecutors and other audiences regarding how the Internet works; how to find evidence in the environment of the Internet, and other computer issues. At the request of other government agencies, CFS's conducts analysis of alleged criminal activity on the Internet to identify issues involved and the type of evidence that will be required for the criminal prosecution.
United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
The U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division develops, enforces, and supervises the application of all federal criminal laws in the United States, except those specifically assigned to other divisions. Criminal Division attorneys prosecute many nationally significant cases and formulate and...
of the United States Department of Justice
United States Department of Justice
The United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
in charge of protecting the welfare of America's children and communities by enforcing federal criminal statutes relating to the exploitation of children and obscenity. Created in 1987, the section comprises approximately 15 attorneys who prosecute defendants who have violated federal child exploitation and obscenity laws and also assist the 93 United States Attorney Offices in investigations, trials, and appeals related to these offenses.
CEOS also has a number of Computer Forensic Specialist (CFS) within the High Technology Investigative Unit (HTIU) and, under the direction of a CEOS manager, they conduct online investigations and analysis of Internet technologies used to distribute obscene materials and child pornography. The CFS uses tools and investigative techniques to document web site contents, location, and other identifying information to produce concise and detailed reports. Under the supervision of a CEOS manager, conducts forensics analysis of seized computer systems, network servers, and other media to provide investigative and analytical support to prosecutors and other law enforcement personnel.
CFS's assist in implementing investigative initiatives to identify child pornography and adult obscenity offenses currently available over the Internet and help develop strategies for gathering evidence in Internet communications areas, including commercial web sites, electronic mail, Usenet newsgroups, Internet Relay Chat, instant messaging technologies, file servers, and peer to peer file sharing. CFS's also conduct and direct investigations of high technology crimes and provides technical advice to prosecutors and federal law enforcement agents.
They provide training to federal law enforcement agents, prosecutors and other audiences regarding how the Internet works; how to find evidence in the environment of the Internet, and other computer issues. At the request of other government agencies, CFS's conducts analysis of alleged criminal activity on the Internet to identify issues involved and the type of evidence that will be required for the criminal prosecution.
Programs of the CFS
- National Child Victim Identification ProgramNational Child Victim Identification ProgramThe National Child Victim Identification Program is the world's largest database of child pornography, maintained by the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section of the United States Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for the purpose of identifying...
- Operation Protect Our ChildrenOperation Protect Our ChildrenOperation Protect Our Children was a joint operation by the US ICE, CEOS, and DOJ Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section to execute "seizure warrants against 10 domain names of websites engaged in the advertisement and distribution of child pornography"...