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Digital evidence and the U.S. criminal justice system [electronic resource] : identifying technology and other needs to more effectively acquire and utilize digital evidence / Sean E. Goodison, Robert C. Davis, and Brian A. Jackson.

Goodison, Sean E., (author.). Davis, Robert C. (Robert Carl), (author.). Jackson, Brian A., 1972- (author.). United States. Department of Justice, (sponsoring body.). National Institute of Justice (U.S.), (sponsoring body.). Police Executive Research Forum, (contributing body.). Rand Corporation, (contributing body.). RTI International, (contributing body.). University of Denver, (contributing body.).

Summary:

This report describes the results of a National Institute of Justice (NIJ)-sponsored research effort to identify and prioritize criminal justice needs related to digital evidence collection, management, analysis, and use. With digital devices becoming ubiquitous, digital evidence is increasingly important to the investigation and prosecution of many types of crimes. These devices often contain information about crimes committed, movement of suspects, and criminal associates. However, there are significant challenges to successfully using digital evidence in prosecutions, including inexperience of patrol officers and detectives in preserving and collecting digital evidence, lack of familiarity with digital evidence on the part of court officials, and an overwhelming volume of work for digital evidence examiners. Through structured interaction with police digital forensic experts, prosecuting attorneys, a privacy advocate, and industry representatives, the effort identified and prioritized specific needs to improve utilization of digital evidence in criminal justice. Several top-tier needs emerged from the analysis, including education of prosecutors and judges regarding digital evidence opportunities and challenges; training for patrol officers and investigators to promote better collection and preservation of digital evidence; tools for detectives to triage analysis of digital evidence in the field; development of regional models to make digital evidence analysis capability available to small departments; and training to address concerns about maintaining the currency of training and technology available to digital forensic examiners.

Electronic resources

Record details

  • Physical Description: 1 online resource (31 pages : illustrations
  • Publisher: [Santa Monica, CA] : RAND Corporation, 2015.

Content descriptions

General Note:
Caption title.
Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references.
Source of Description Note:
Online resource; title from PDF title page (RAND, viewed May 28, 2015).
Print version record.
Subject:
Electronic evidence > Research.
Evidence, Criminal > Research.
Technology > Moral and ethical aspects.

Accessibility Features

Summary: This report describes the results of a National Institute of Justice (NIJ)-sponsored research effort to identify and prioritize criminal justice needs related to digital evidence collection, management, analysis, and use. With digital devices becoming ubiquitous, digital evidence is increasingly important to the investigation and prosecution of many types of crimes. These devices often contain information about crimes committed, movement of suspects, and criminal associates. However, there are significant challenges to successfully using digital evidence in prosecutions, including inexperience of patrol officers and detectives in preserving and collecting digital evidence, lack of familiarity with digital evidence on the part of court officials, and an overwhelming volume of work for digital evidence examiners. Through structured interaction with police digital forensic experts, prosecuting attorneys, a privacy advocate, and industry representatives, the effort identified and prioritized specific needs to improve utilization of digital evidence in criminal justice. Several top-tier needs emerged from the analysis, including education of prosecutors and judges regarding digital evidence opportunities and challenges; training for patrol officers and investigators to promote better collection and preservation of digital evidence; tools for detectives to triage analysis of digital evidence in the field; development of regional models to make digital evidence analysis capability available to small departments; and training to address concerns about maintaining the currency of training and technology available to digital forensic examiners.