Heather Curtis
WMAL.com
WASHINGTON (WMAL) – Frederick County officials cut the red tape Monday that makes it difficult to prosecute crimes committed against children over the internet.
The Frederick County State’s Attorney’s Office, Frederick County Sheriff’s Office and Frederick Police Department signed a memorandum of understanding that will make it easier for them to share information on cyber crimes among local and federal agencies.
In the past, the sheriff’s office worked with Homeland Security Investigations and the police department with the FBI, and they weren’t able to effectively share information on internet crimes – including soliciting minors for sex – according to spokesman for the state’s attorney’s office Will Cockey.
“These cases are extremely difficult because they really require a lot of coordination among law enforcement, especially outside of the county. Many of these suspects involved in these types of crimes could be out of the county, out of the state, out of the country, so it’s important that all of the agencies involved are able to coordinate and share information effectively,” said Cockey.
Being able to share information will allow law enforcement to compile better cases, according to Cockey, and bring them to the state’s attorney’s office for prosecution. The hope is that better cases will lead to more convictions.
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