The New Jersey State Police received almost $700,000 in federal funding for technology upgrades to catch online predators who target children.

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman presented $675,000 to the state police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Wednesday. She said the money will help investigators expand their efforts to identify and prosecute offenders.

"When they came to me seeking additional funding to expand their reach and continue doing their vitally important work, I didn't hesitate," said Watson Coleman.

Officials said the funding will be used to purchase updated technology and investigative tools.

"The work requires access to the latest technologies, including capable hardware, ever-changing software, and other tools used to locate this evidence through forensic analysis," said New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport.

According to state police, arrests involving cyber crimes against children have increased significantly over the past year.

"The digital world has expanded rapidly, and with it, the ways individuals attempt to target children have grown more sophisticated," said New Jersey State Police Superintendent Jeanne Hengemuhle. "That reality makes our work investigating internet crimes against children not only essential, but urgently necessary."

Investigators also told News 12 that new threats to children's online safety emerge constantly, the latest one being artificial intelligence.

"We have to work on legislation for that," said New Jersey State Police Lt. Paul Sciortino. "We've been waiting for this for about the last two years. We knew AI was going to become a problem, and we're starting to see more training on that on a national level for people who do ICAC investigations."