Justice Information Sharing

    CI240 Intermediate Cyber Investigations: Virtual Currency

    This course provides students with the fundamental knowledge and skills they need to investigate crimes involving virtual currency. Instructors explain foundational concepts like the characteristics of money, virtual currency, and cryptocurrency. Blockchain technology, proof work, and proof of stake are covered; and students learn how industry-leading cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Monero) work and how they differ from each other. Finally, students learn investigative techniques for tracking and documenting transactions; and best practices for seizing and securing cryptocurrency.

    *Virtual currency basics. History of money and of virtual currency. Categorizing virtual currency.
    *Blockchain. History of the blockchain. Understanding different protocols.
    *Cryptocurrencies in detail. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero and other privacy coins.
    *Investigative techniques. Seizing virtual currency; tracking transactions through the blockchain; documenting investigative results.

    FC102 Tools and Techniques for Financial Investigations

    This course provides an overview of the actions investigators can take at the outset of a financial crime investigation. Students learn to ask critical questions, gather documentation, and analyze information for leads. Topics include obtaining and working with financial records, red flags in financial cases, money laundering, investigative strategies for different types of financial crimes, and commingled funds.

    IA102 Introduction to Link Analysis

    This course introduces analysts to the broader concepts of connecting the dots through link analysis. A critical portion of conducting a successful analytical investigation is the ability to link together and understand the complexities of the connectedness between people and organizations. Introduction to Link Analysis (ILA) expands on the basic principles of link and association analyses explored in the Foundations of Intelligence Analysis Training (FIAT) while building a framework for more advanced methods such as social network analysis.

    Expanding basic knowledge of link and association analysis
    Explaining the process of social network analysis
    Understanding the visual mapping and mathematical components associated with link and social network analyses

    FC101 Financial Investigations Practical Skills

    This course provides hands-on investigative training at a basic level. Students develop the practical skills, insight, and knowledge necessary to manage a successful financial investigation from start to finish, including the acquisition and examination of financial records, interview skills, and case management and organization. Additional topics include forgery and embezzlement, financial exploitation of the elderly, working with spreadsheets, financial profiling, and state-specific statutes and legal issues.

    *Emerging issues. Current trends in various types of financial crimes. Recent cases and their implications.
    *Financial records. Learn to obtain and manage bank records, including basic spreadsheeting skills.
    *Working with data. Extract leads and draw conclusions from bank records and other financial data.
    *Hands-on experience. Work a mock financial case as part of an investigative team.

    IA101 Foundations of Intelligence Analysis Training

    This course addresses the critical need for well-trained intelligence analysts to interpret growing amounts of information. Topics include the intelligence cycle, analytical thinking skills, the importance of strategic analysis, communication and social media analysis, recommendation development, and legal and ethical issues. Students work hands-on with specialized software to synthesize information and develop various products of intelligence. The course was developed by a consortium that included NW3C, Law Enforcement Intelligence Units (LEIU), the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis (IALEIA), and the Regional Information Sharing System (RISS).

    *Analysis basics. History and purpose of intelligence analysis. Legal issues and ethics. Sources of information. The intelligence cycle.
    *Types of analysis. Crime patterns. Associations. Flow. Communications. Financial analysis.
    *Creative and critical thinking. Brainstorming. Mind mapping. Steps to critical thinking.
    *Deterring crime. Strategic analysis as a tool for law enforcement personnel.
    *Hands-on experience. Work as part of a team to analyze information pertaining to several hypothetical cases.

    CI101 Basic Cyber Investigations: Digital Footprints

    This course introduces learners to the concept of digital footprints and best practices in protecting personally identifiable information (PII). Topics include limiting an individuals digital footprint, protecting privacy on social media, and the consequences of oversharing personal information; as well as steps to take after becoming a target of doxing.

    *Current landscape. Emerging technology and trends that can aid criminals in the commission of identity theft, credit card theft, child exploitation, and production of counterfeit documents.
    *Personally identifiable information (PII). Learn what PII is, why it can threaten individuals safety, and the scams and exploits criminals use to obtain it.
    *Minimizing your digital footprint. Learn how and why you should remove PII, and how to find where information may be located. Instructors demonstrate how to secure digital devices and request removal of data from a website.
    *Social media. Use security and privacy settings to control the amount of available information on multiple platforms.
    *Resources. Identify resources that can help victims of identity theft, doxing, and other related crimes.

    FC201 Financial Records Investigative Skills

    This course builds on the concepts introduced in FC101 (FIPS) and FC105 (FREA), introducing investigators and prosecutors to emerging issues in financial crime. Topics include money laundering, analyzing large financial data sets, conducting effective interviews, and managing large amounts of financial evidence. This course consists of a mix of lecture, discussion, and hands-on exercises. Students conduct a mock investigation that includes interviews, data analysis, and the examination of various documents.

    *Money laundering. Methods of laundering money. Tracing illegal funds. Emerging issues. FinCEN.
    *Spreadsheeting skills. Spreadsheet architecture. Formulas and calculations. Pivot tables.
    *Working with financial data. Benfords law analysis. Disentangling commingled funds.
    *Hands-on experience. Work a mock financial case as part of an investigative team.

    FC110 Financial Crimes Against Seniors

    This course promotes a multi-agency approach to the problem of financial exploitation of senior citizens. Bringing together law enforcement personnel and adult protective services investigators, the course enhances students investigative skills and interviewing techniques while facilitating networking and cooperation that can extend out of the classroom and into real cases. Topics include recognizing elder abuse, working with victims, identifying perpetrators, and resources for investigation and community awareness. Students work together to conduct a mock investigation into a hypothetical case.

    *Financial investigation basics. What constitutes elder abuse? Family and trusted persons as perpetrators. Statutes and sentencing enhancements.
    *Senior victims. Reasons for vulnerability. Special needs like Alzheimers or dementia.
    *Resources. Community awareness and investigative resources.
    *Hands-on experience. Work a case as part of an investigative team.

    CI240 Intermediate Cyber Investigations: Virtual Currency

    This course provides students with the fundamental knowledge and skills they need to investigate crimes involving virtual currency. Instructors explain foundational concepts like the characteristics of money, virtual currency, and cryptocurrency. Blockchain technology, proof work, and proof of stake are covered; and students learn how industry-leading cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Monero) work and how they differ from each other. Finally, students learn investigative techniques for tracking and documenting transactions; and best practices for seizing and securing cryptocurrency.

    *Virtual currency basics. History of money and of virtual currency. Categorizing virtual currency.
    *Blockchain. History of the blockchain. Understanding different protocols.
    *Cryptocurrencies in detail. Bitcoin, Ethereum, Monero and other privacy coins.
    *Investigative techniques. Seizing virtual currency; tracking transactions through the blockchain; documenting investigative results.

    IA105 Intelligence Writing and Briefing

    This course covers basic intelligence writing and briefing principles as well as methods for effective and clear intelligence sharing. Topics covered include creative and critical thinking, critical reading skills, source evaluation, privacy and civil rights, intelligence writing style and structure, and generating and presenting intelligence briefings. With guidance from experienced experts, students gain hands-on experience by working through data sets based on real cases to produce intelligence products. Instructors and peers provide feedback on briefings and reports produced and presented in class.

    *Foundational skills. Creative thinking. Critical thinking. Critical reading.
    *Information sources. Identify sources of intelligence information. Evaluate sources for validity and reliability.
    *Analytical reports. Develop a structured and actionable analytical report based on a data set given in class.
    *Privacy considerations. Ensure protection of privacy and civil rights while producing intelligence products.
    *Briefings. Construct and deliver an intelligence briefing based on a data set given in class.

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