This article describes the National Institute of Justice funded Electronic Crimes Partnership Initiative (ECPI) assisting law enforcement officers in solving computer crimes through the use of digital computer evidence.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the Electronic Crimes Partnership Initiative (ECPI) is a multidisciplinary team of professionals committed to enhancing law enforcement officers’ ability to solve computer crimes. The initiative draws on the skills of a coalition of experts from law enforcement, academia, the government, and the private sector. Experts at ECPI teach police officers to solve computer crimes and develop digital evidence in crimes like rape and murder. Officers learn that computers can facilitate criminal acts and are trained to conduct more sophisticated investigations to build stronger cases. This article describes this NIJ funded initiative and its attempt to help law enforcement professionals use electronic tools such as digital evidence to fight crime.