---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 20983"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "20983"
heading: "Grants to combat sexual abuse of children"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/20983"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Protection of Children and Other Persons"
  - "Chapter 209 — Child Protection and Safety"
  - "Subchapter III — Grants and Other Provisions"
---

# §20983. Grants to combat sexual abuse of children

- (a) **In general—** The Bureau of Justice Assistance is authorized to make grants under this section—
  - (1) to any [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agency that serves a [jurisdiction](/usc/34/21502.md?p=6) with 50,000 or more residents; and
  - (2) to any [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agency that serves a [jurisdiction](/usc/34/21502.md?p=6) with fewer than 50,000 residents, upon a showing of need.
- (b) **Use of grant amounts—** Grants under this section may be used by the [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agency to—
  - (1) hire additional [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) personnel or train existing staff to combat the sexual [abuse](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) of children through community education and outreach, investigation of complaints, enforcement of laws relating to [sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) registries, and management of released [sex offenders](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9);
  - (2) investigate the use of the Internet to facilitate the sexual [abuse](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) of children; and
  - (3) purchase computer hardware and software necessary to investigate sexual [abuse](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) of children over the Internet, access local, [State](/usc/34/21701.md?p=3), and Federal databases needed to apprehend [sex offenders](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9), and facilitate the creation and enforcement of [sex offender](/usc/34/21502.md?p=9) registries.
- (c) **Criteria—** The Attorney General shall give priority to [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agencies making a showing of need.
- (d) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2007 through 2009 to carry out this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–248, title VI, § 625, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 636.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 16983 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.