NCJ Number
219971
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 34 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2007 Pages: 16,18,20,25
Date Published
July 2007
Length
8 pages
Annotation
After noting the importance of cell-phone evidence, this article discusses the procedures and technology for handling such evidence.
Abstract
Just over 76 percent of the U.S. population has cell phones; and these cell phones, along with records of their use, contain evidence of the nature and timing of the behaviors of the individuals who may use them not only to communicate with others, but also to take pictures, store data, and use the Internet. For individuals who are the subjects of criminal investigations, evidence related to their cell-phone use can be useful in linking them to crime-related events and people. First responders should be trained in how to handle cell phones as evidence. The cell phone and its power supply should be seized together if possible, and the phone should be turned off and the battery removed for evidence preservation. Law enforcement agencies should be familiar with the Guidelines on Cell Phone Forensics: Recommendations of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The intent of this guide is to help organizations establish policies and procedures for dealing with cell phones and to prepare forensic specialists to address new circumstances that involve cell phones. Guidelines on preserving, collecting, packaging, transporting, and storing evidence are helpful when setting policies and procedures for first responders. This article identifies some of the challenges of cell-phone forensics, including the lack of consistency in hardware and software interfaces. New cell phone models with various operating systems and cabling requirements are constantly coming onto the market, and forensic software has difficulty keeping pace. Training requirements for cell-phone forensic examiners are discussed, along with cell-phone forensics technology.