GBI: Child Exploitation Arrests on Rise

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said that arrests are on the rise for child exploitation cases.

According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the agency said that the number of arrests resulting from investigations conducted and coordinated by the GBI’s Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit and the Georgia Interent Crimes Against Children Task Force has steadily risen over the last three years.

In Fiscal Year 2016, there were 275 arrests, compared to 201 in Fiscal Year 2015 and 189 in Fiscal Year 2014.

GBI officials said the increase is a direct result of the added number of very active new affiliates who partner with the GBI to conduct more proactive investigations.

The agency said these increased proactive efforts produce tangible results.

Debbie Garner is the GBI Special Agent in Charge of the Child Exploitation and Computer Crimes Unit.

She said these increased arrests illustrate the importance of the task force working together and show that individuals attempting to exploit children will not be tolerated.