SEARCH staff has been tasked by the Bureau of Justice Assistance with conducting a National Research Project to determine the baseline capabilities of law enforcement relating to investigations of crimes involving the use of digital evidence. SEARCH staff will conduct a thorough review of available existing standards; develop, with the assistance of a committee of subject matter experts, a series of questions and issues to present at multiple site visits; and analyze and evaluate the results to determine whether the Bureau of Justice Assistance may assist state, local and tribal law enforcement in the development of policies and protocols to incorporate in investigations of crimes involving digital evidence. SEARCH staff will develop recommendations based on the results of this comprehensive research project.
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During January - June 2014 reporting period, BJA has tasked SEARCH to conduct a national research project to determine the baseline capabilities of law enforcement relating to investigations of crimes involving the use of digital evidence. During this reporting period, SEARCH Staff visited the Knoxville and Brentwood Police Departments in Tennessee, and the Riverside Police Department in California. At each visit, SEARCH Staff met with officers from patrol, investigations, cyber investigations, civilian forensic examiners, and command staff to conduct an interview of the technology training and core capabilities of each level of the agency. SEARCH staff collected and reviewed the general orders of the agency to determine the standards and protocols used to conduct investigations of digital evidence and technology facilitated crimes. SEARCH Staff interviewed each participant of the study to determine his or her core capabilities and understanding of digital devices and the use of technological devices in investigating crimes.
During the July - December 2014 reporting period, SEARCH Staff visited the Seattle and Puyallup Police Departments in Washington, the La Vista and Bellevue Police Departments in Nebraska, and the Waterbury Police Department in Vermont. At each visit, SEARCH Staff met with officers from patrol, investigations, cyber investigations, civilian forensic examiners, and command staff to conduct an interview of the technology training and core capabilities of each level of the agency. SEARCH staff collected and reviewed the general orders of the agency to determine the standards and protocols used to conduct investigations of digital evidence and technology facilitated crimes. SEARCH Staff interviewed each participant of the study to determine his or her core capabilities and understanding of digital devices and the use of technological devices in investigating crimes
During January - June 2015 reporting period, there are no activities to report.
CC: As previously reported, BJA tasked SEARCH to conduct a national research project to determine the baseline capabilities of law enforcement relating to investigations of crimes involving the use of digital evidence. Throughout this project, SEARCH Staff visited multiple law enforcement agencies across the U.S. At each visit, Staff met with officers from various divisions, including patrol, investigations, cyber investigations, civilian forensic examiners, and command staff to conduct an interview of the technology training and core capabilities of each level of the agency. SEARCH staff collected and reviewed the general orders of the agency to determine the standards and protocols used to conduct investigations of digital evidence and technology facilitated crimes. SEARCH Staff interviewed each participant of the study to determine his or her core capabilities and understanding of digital devices and the use of technological devices in investigating crimes. During this reporting period, SEARCH Staff completed the final report for this project, detailing the results of the research effort and providing recommendations for a path to move forward regarding digital evidence and law enforcement's abilities to investigate
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Please submit a signed letter of support from your agency’s executive or other senior staff member. The letter can be emailed to or uploaded with this request. The letter should be submitted on official letterhead and include the following information:
- General information regarding the request for TTA services, i.e., the who, what, where, when, and why.
- The organizational and/or community needs specific to the request for TTA services.
- The benefits or anticipated outcomes from the receipt of TTA services.
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