CHIP Coordinators and CHIP Unit AUSAs

The CHIP Coordinators and CHIP Unit AUSAs (collectively CHIP AUSAs) in each district have five program responsibilities:

to prosecute cyber and cyber-enabled crimes and intellectual property offenses;

to serve as the district’s legal counsel on matters relating to those offenses, and the collection of electronic or digital evidence;

to train prosecutors and law enforcement personnel in the region;

to conduct public and industry outreach and awareness activities; and

to ensure that their district has a process in place devoted to providing investigators with the appropriate legal process for victim identification promptly upon initiating a case and receiving such an investigator’s request.

The CHIP AUSAs should also ensure that the USAO notifies and coordinates with other USAOs, CCIPS, or other Department components as applicable, as described in

JM 9-50.400

and

9-51.101

.

The specific role of CHIP AUSAs in each of the districts will depend on a variety of factors, including the size of the district, whether it has a CHIP Unit or other dedicated CHIP FTE, the volume of cyber and cyber-enabled crimes and intellectual property cases referred, and the particular crime problems, industries, and critical infrastructure within the district. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices may have a dedicated CHIP unit, or may assign CHIP prosecutors to work in units focused on other offenses. Each U.S. Attorney is charged with implementing the CHIP program in the manner that best fits the resources and needs of their district.

Funded CHIP AUSA resources should be focused on the program responsibilities described above. While the United States Attorney retains the discretion to determine how these various roles and functions are carried out, it is essential that all of the CHIP resources are managed appropriately. Moreover, CHIP AUSA resources will be evaluated based on the district’s prosecution of the CHIP-related offenses set forth in

JM 9-50.201

and

9-50.202

.

on the program responsibilities described above. While the United States Attorney retains the discretion to determine how these various roles and functions are carried out, it is essential that all of the CHIP resources are managed appropriately. Moreover, CHIP AUSA resources will be evaluated based on the district’s prosecution of the CHIP-related offenses set forth in

JM 9-50.201

and

9-50.202

.

CHIP AUSAs also must serve as the primary points-of-contact for all of the district’s law enforcement activities regarding cyber and cyber-enabled crimes and intellectual property crimes, including the investigation and prosecution of the district’s CHIP cases with a particular emphasis on cyber and cyber-enabled crimes and intellectual property offenses in

JM 9-50.201

and

9-50.202

.

[updated August 2023]