SEARCH | Digital Evidence Investigations

Digital evidence is everywhere. From security camera footage that shows a suspect entering a building to a teenager’s cell phone that shows how many times she (unwittingly) texted a registered sex offender—it’s all potential evidence that can be used to build a case.

These data morsels come in the form of Internet histories, information about image and media files, passwords, network settings, registry information and much more. They’re found in everything from cell phones to tablets to laptops, and they’re found inside the devices that we connect to these devices: cameras, routers, USB drives, etc.

Through targeted services and products, we offer assistance, guidance and training in the best methods to successfully recover digital data/evidence.

We offer expertise on mobile device investigations—extracting data from devices that connect to cellular or wireless networks. We also offer expertise on retrieving data from computers and other devices seized at a crime scene.

Additional Resources

Courses

Instructor-led Training

Core Skills for the Investigation of Mobile Devices
Network Investigation and Digital Triage
Online Investigations: Tools, Tips, and Techniques
The Investigation of Computer Crime
Peer-to-Peer Investigations

Resources

ISP List
SEARCH Investigative Toolbar
High-Tech Crime Publications
Podcasts
Calendar

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Questions About Recovering Data from a Mobile Device

Karen Lissy

Ms. Karen Lissy is a Justice Information Services Specialist for the Law and Policy Program of SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics. In this position, she provides assistance to state and local justice and public safety agencies to collect, curate, and use National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) data and computerized criminal history record (CCH/CHRI) information for policy analysis and development.

She also guides justice and related organizations in how to craft and implement laws, policies, practices, and technology applications to effectively collect and use CCH and related justice/public safety data; address legal, policy, and regulatory issues associated with CCH data; better manage and operate criminal justice information and identification systems; and develop security and privacy policies that protect justice information sharing systems.

Ms. Lissy has nearly two decades of research and data analysis experience, having led projects and tasks in support of two agencies within the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (the Bureau of Justice Statistics and National Institute of Justice), as well as the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, and multiple foundations, including Ford, Annie E. Casey, and Hewlett. Prior to joining SEARCH in October 2020, Ms. Lissy served as a Social Science Researcher at RTI International, as a regional Crime Analyst for the Redmond (WA) Police Department, and as Director of a research program with the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis. Beginning in 2012, Ms. Lissy’s work has focused on improving data in law enforcement to answer policy questions and improve community/police relations.

Ms. Lissy earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Duke University, and a Master’s in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Michael Mackay

Mr. Michael Mackay is an Information Sharing Developer for SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics. As part of the Software and Data Engineering Program (SDEP) team, he plans, develops, implements, and deploys information sharing systems on behalf of SEARCH clients in local, state, tribal, and Federal government settings. He also provides programming, configuration, and testing assistance, and consults on implementation architecture and design with clients.

Mr. Mackay supports justice, public safety, and homeland security information sharing nationwide through SDEP services that include software architecture and systems design, application development, deployment and support, data management services, and direct technical assistance and training. These services offer capabilities that include federated query, authentication access/control, subscription/notification, process/workflow automation, data analysis, and more.

Prior to joining SEARCH in 2021, Mr. Mackay worked as a Software Engineering Intern for TDM Business Toole Suite, where he provided software development support using Java frameworks, implemented relational database models using MySQL, and designed GUI components using NetBeans.

Mr. Mackay will work in an Agile development environment, a methodology that SEARCH embraces that focuses on incremental development and delivery, collaboration in a team approach, and rapid and flexible response to change throughout the development cycle.

Mr. Mackay earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics and Statistics from Stony Brook University, New York.