Electronic Evidence: Not Just for Computer Specialists - Not Just for Cyber Crime!

Not every member of your agency can be a computer expert - nor do they need to be. Since its inception, it has been the goal of PATCtech Digital Forensics to bring basic computer-related skills that benefit any type of investigation to officers with any level of computer-related experience. There is a movement in public safety towards having all officers in an agency to possess basic computer-related skills, and not just the computer and cyber crime specialists. This movement, when fully materialized, arms an agency with more tools for rapid response in time-sensitive incidents like missing child cases, and a more comprehensive collection of evidence to use in prosecution for any type case.

To answer the sample questions below and more, join us at a PATCtech Electronic Evidence & Cyber Crime Conference, or one of the many computer-related training courses for law enforcement.

• Where are chat logs located so I can quickly look for evidence of where a missing child may be located? When the clock is ticking, knowing standard file locations can expedite on-scene computer “triage” to find out what you are looking for “right now”.
  


• How can I find out where the suspect was located during the time of the incident, using cell phone call records? Putting a suspect at a certain location at a certain time is a fundamental goal of any type investigation - mapping cellular records is an easy-to-learn scientific way of achieving this.
  


• How can I easily and forensically find evidence of child pornography on a phone or computer that also shows the suspect knowingly possessed it? Finding a digital file is one thing. Proving your suspect knowingly possessed it is an essential step that strengthens your prosecution in any type case.
  


• How can I easily view a suspect’s computer and Internet activity to find associations with a cyber crime? Locating specific computer or Internet activity of a suspect can be as useful as a finger print in proving a suspect’s guilt in any type of case.
  


• How can I look through a computer at the crime scene without contaminating it for future use in court? There are simple solutions that 1st Responders, crime scene technicians and investigators can use that gives them full access to a computer “right now” while keeping it ‘clean’ for use in prosecution.
  


• How do I get Google®, Yahoo®, AT&T®, Verizon® and other companies to issue me a suspect’s email or phone records? Knowing how to leverage email hosts and phone carriers for information can make or break your prosecution in any type case.
  


• My suspect has a GPS device in their car. Can this help me? How do I recover that data? GPS information can give an investigator detailed information about travel history of a suspect, and virtually their pin-point location at any given time.
  


• When I show up at a crime scene, what all types of electronic devices should I look for that could potentially have evidence for prosecution? Investigating digital evidence is not just for computer experts, and not just for cyber crime cases - ALL players in an investigation from 1st Responder to Prosecutor need to know how to harness digital data as evidence and be able to recognize what types of devices hold potential evidence.
  


• If I’m on a crime scene, or just a regular stop and search of a person, can I legally go through a suspect’s phone or computer without a warrant? There are specific rules for what you can and cannot do with electronic storage devices prior to a warrant - knowing these rules can be as important as knowing which hip your gun is on and which hip your TASER® is on!
  


• I’m not a digital forensics specialist, and I know very little about computers, how can I benefit from computer-related training? It’s true that advanced digital forensics is a specialty field requiring advanced and continued training. This is akin to a member of a narcotics unit receiving advanced training for their specialty. However, it behooves the whole agency when all officers know how to identify and seize illegal drugs. Equally so, advanced digital forensics should be left to specialists, but the basic procedures for identifying and seizing digital evidence are skills that all members of law enforcement should know.