Digital Evidence And Law Enforcement Essay

Therefore, “digital” evidence is very similar and familiar to first responders because digital evidence is, evidence that is of an electronic nature, where its environment is in the “virtual reality” of computers and other electronic devices. Digital, electronic data, or information takes the form of “bits” and “bytes,” which are stored magnetically on a computer’s hard disk drive. Digital evidence can take many different forms; such as:

Evidence plays a vital role throughout criminal investigations. Typically, we think of evidence as things such as fingerprints, DNA, and fibers. However, evidence as evolved as the world of technology has expanded. Digital evidence also now plays just as much of an important role as traditional evidence. When beginning an investigation that involves digital evidence, it is important for the investigator to know what evidence to look for. Identification of evidence, collection including transportation of evidence and examination of evidence are the three main aspects of the process.

An Internet crime can be a developmental scheme by the perpetrator, using different elements of the internet, and false representation to deprive a person's property or any interest (Kim et al., 2012). Although botched representation comes along, with the provision of misleading information or anonymity of data. In the recent years, there has been an increasing trust of consumers and businesses in the carrying out of particular actions. The amplifying usage comes along with the electronic communication during the act of major business rules. The increasingly rising internet crimes have come along with the global advancement that incorporates internet based conduct of business (Anderson et al., 2013). In the digital era the crime perpetrators, have absorbed the idea of shifting with times leading to the high number of the crimes. The reason that we cannot distinguish between the self additionally the risk trader comes in with internet crime given that a face-to-face communication and monitoring barrier. With that respect, the associated internet fraud has greatly affected by the general allowance, trust, and the usage. The paper will center on the effects attached to social cost, trust, and usage associated with internet fraud.

Today, technology has affected our global surroundings in a number of ways. Technology has created a more advanced society and economy. We use technology in every aspect of life today. New innovations and technology helps create a safer atmosphere and reduces the rate of crime. Technology is the usage and knowledge of techniques or is systems of these things. Usage of technology in the criminal justice system is not new but more apparent today. Technology in criminal justice will continue to challenge us to think about how we turn information into knowledge. Due to new technology, criminal investigations are able to maintain and improve their processes. Forensic science, DNA, other

A big problem with digital evidence is, that the suspects can hide the evidence on any location on the Hard Drive. That means a judge, a police office or a forensic analyst can impossible predict where exactly the evidence is located on the Hard Drive. That implies, that the forensic analyst have to search through the entire Hard Drive to find the evidence

Electronic evidence is very fragile because it can be destroyed or altered very easily, therefore it is imperative that investigators follow very careful all the procedural steps when collecting electronic evidence (Diversified Forensics). Before any electronic evidence is gathered investigators should determine whether there is probable cause that a crime has been committed, or if the crime was committed somewhere else the investigator should determine whether the electronic evidence will aid the investigation process to prove or disapprove the crime, if a warrant is needed it must be obtained prior to collecting the evidence (Diversified Forensics). Hard drives, computers, and other electronic devices must be turned off, unplug all cables,

Data is crucial to the success of any company and they are now increasing their efforts in soliciting and retrieving customer data to learn more about their client's preferences, likes, and dislikes. This, among other factors has attributed to a growing field of data science where data scientists learn to collect crucial data. While there are many types of data, this paper will primarily focus on digital data and how digital scientists can retrieve these data to support provide information for the crown or for the defense. This area has received more attention because criminals such as terrorists have realized the effectiveness of using digital devices to aid in their criminal endeavors (Reith, Carr & Gunsch, 2002, p.2). To combat this, law enforcement agencies are now relying on digital scientists to preserve, collect, analysis and interpret "digital evidence derived from digital sources" (Vincze, 2016, p.184) to help prevent cybercrime and prosecute (or exonerate) suspects. The purpose of this paper is then to illustrate why digital forensic is crucial to addressing the new dangers presented in our society by analyzing the strengths and demonstrating why the weaknesses of the field

In the United States, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, including FBI, Department of Homeland Security, among others, have taken on roles to fight computer crimes and terrorism. The roles and responses of these law enforcement agencies concerning digital crime have created challenges that limit enforcement efforts against digital crime.

Investigating a cyberstalking case presents a unique set of challenges. Evidence can be found in digital form, so it can be protected from being lost or damaged, or the complete opposite can be true and it can be easily lost, damaged, corrupted, or rendered inadmissible in court due to flawed forensic gathering practices. It is important, with cases involving digital media that the same procedures be followed when it comes to collecting evidence. Chain of custody documentation must still be kept. The right software must be used to directly copy any hardware seized or searched for investigative purposes.

Computers have evolved on how we communicate thru technology. People use technology in creative ways that can complicate the forensic analysis process, importantly when attempts are made to conceal digital evidence. The economy consists of millions of users spend hours surfing the web, stay up to date with current events, and take part in many activities.

Digital forensics has been responsible for putting away thousands and thousands of criminals. Ranging from simple crime computer crimes to child pornography. To get quality evidence that can be admissible in court there are steps that are needed in preparing a computer investigation. There are also requirements for data recovery, as well as procedures for corporate investigations. “Digital forensics has become prevalent because law enforcement recognizes that modern day life includes a variety of digital devices that can be exploited for criminal activity, not just computer systems. While computer forensics tends to focus on specific methods for extracting evidence from a particular platform, digital forensics must be modeled such that it can encompass all types of digital devices, including future digital technologies” (Reith, Carr, and Gunsch, 2002).

The amount of users on the Internet today and the possibility of each user utilizing multiple devices which are connected to the Internet can pose an enormous amount of work for a digital forensic investigator. A digital forensic investigator will almost always find the need to examine artifacts that are associated with the suspect or victim related to their activity on the Internet. A careful evaluation of the type of Internet activity related to the case in which the suspect is involved is an effective practice for the digital forensic investigator (Rogers, Goldman, Mislan, Wedge, & Debrota, 2006).

Law enforcement agencies, especially at the state and local levels, are in the process of getting their hands around cybercrime enforcement. Although federal agencies have the laws, training and resources to pursue enforcement of cybercrime, they only can only address the biggest, high dollar cases.

In a world where technology is increasingly becoming the way of life, it was only a matter of time before crime was no longer just in the streets but happening online as well. Criminals now get a new approach to carry out their crimes with the use of computers. Since technology is more like a murder mystery than catching the bad guy in the act, a new discipline of forensics needed to be put into place. This is known as computer forensics. Forensic science is any science used for the purpose of law. In the case of computer forensics it is “the discipline that combines elements of law and computer science to collect and analyze data from computer systems, networks, wireless communications, and storage devices in a way that is admissible as evidence in a court of law” (U.S. Cert, 2008). Meaning if you do something illegal on the Internet it can be found.

Computers have become a new weapon in committing crime, and to the burgeoning science of digital evidence, law enforcement now uses computers to fight crime. Digital evidence is information stored, transmitted, and received in binary form that can potentially be relied on as evidence in court. Notwithstanding, digital evidence is commonly associated with crimes that involve such devices, such as a computer hard drives, external storage devices, mobile phones, among others, and are often referred to as e-crimes. However, to fight e-crime, law enforcement must collect relevant digital evidence for such crimes, law enforcement agencies are incorporating the collection and analysis of digital evidence, also referred to as computer forensics, into many of their infrastructures.