Idaho Attorney General Wants Funding Boost to Combat Child Pornography

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and Idaho police want $2 million in new state funding to help them fight child pornography, arguing many of those who produce, view or share such illicit material are also abusing kids but remain at large. Even so, Idaho's courts have recommended studying impacts of adding to fees or fines to pay for new programs. That's before further taxing a system struggling to collect what's already owed.

Boise Police Detective Tim Brady told the House Judiciary and Rules Committee Thursday the money would bolster Idaho's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, creating a 14-person investigative team capable of tackling cases where sophisticated computer skills are necessary. Currently, Idaho law enforcement agencies generate 5,000 child-porn related leads annually, but many go uninvestigated due to lack of resources.