Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/80908
forums exist where predilections are cele- brated and predators try to "one-up" each other in disseminating—and, more horri- fyingly, creating—these images. In addition to increasing the opportu- nities for predators to strike, the Internet also creates headaches in prosecuting these crimes. It's blue jeans day at the U.S. District Attorney's office on West Washington Av- enue in Madison. Through the window of a taupe conference room, the sun shines. Seated at a table are Assistant District Attorney Meredith Duchemin and Julie Pfluger, the western district's newest assis- tant attorney—and one tasked with leading Project Safe Childhood. Since 2006, Project Safe Childhood has served in the federal fight against child exploitation, particularly exploitation where technology is used. Until Pfluger's arrival, child exploitation cases were as- signed among attorneys on a rotating basis, regardless of their expertise. Pfluger focuses on the U.S. Department of Justice's effort to combat what they call an "epidemic" of child sexual exploitation and abuse. It is somewhat telling that in an era of government cutbacks, Pfluger has been hired to deal almost exclusively with cases of child exploitation. It's not news to Pfluger herself, though, who came from a district in New York where these types of investigations were already a priority. "[In that district], you could assign an unlimited number of attorneys working 24-hours a day and never run out of work in child exploitation," she says grimly. Together, these women are the frontline of the digital fight against child exploi- tation. For Duchemin and Pfluger, it's a fight to prosecute cases that violate federal laws, particularly the manufacturing of child pornography. Meanwhile, possession of pornography and general child exploita- tion fall within the jurisdiction of state and local authorities such as Price, who finds and investigates cases throughout the state. For Groehler, it's the local battle for the safety of Madison's kids. Regardless of which organization is hunting Internet predators, the road to prosecution isn't so cut and dry. The Wis- consin Department of Justice recently identified child pornography downloads 62 BRAVA Magazine September 2012 from approximately 20,000 Wisconsin- based Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. IP addresses tied to the download of illegal material can lead investigators to a home, but wireless routers, shared computers and gaming consoles can muddy the waters of investigation. "The biggest challenge is that we have to put a butt in the seat," says Duchemin, ex- plaining that it's not enough to know that a computer in a household has accessed child pornography. Even after a warrant is issued, evidence is gathered and alleged criminals are brought to trial, the battle is not over. Investigators and prosecutors have to prove that a specif- ic person downloaded a specific image at a specific time. In other words, investigators can't let the perpetrator attempt to blame it on a computer virus or a roommate. To make matters worse, possessing