Digital Forensics in Law Enforcement: A Needs Based Analysis of Indiana Agencies

Abstract

Cyber-crime is a growing problem, but the ability of Indiana law enforcement agencies to investigate and successfully prosecute criminals for these crimes is unclear. While law enforcement agencies have been conducting these investigations for many years, the previously published needs assessments all indicated that state and local law enforcement did not have the training, tools, or staff to effectively conduct investigations with the volume or complexity included many of these cases. This study provided a current assessment of the training levels, needs, and perceptions of abilities of Indiana law enforcement agencies and prosecuting attorneys, and whether they are engaged in investigating crimes involving digital evidence. The results support the recommendation that a comprehensive resource guide, focused on Indiana, is needed, as standard operating procedures are lacking, and there is a lack of awareness of available training courses or educational materials.