Orange County DA announces creation of Digital Forensics Unit

In an effort to accelerate the evidence gathering process, the Orange County District Attorney’s office recently announced the creation of a Digital Forensics Unit (DFU) to search and analyze digital data retrieved from devices such as cellular telephones, computers and vehicles taken into evidence by police agencies throughout Orange County.

Patterned after similar units in Manhattan and the Bronx, the Orange County DFU will also aid other county police agencies in child exploitation investigations, crime scenes and specialized video DVR extractions. Led by a senior investigator and staffed by two fulltime investigators with a collective 1,500 hours of specialized training in digital forensics and child exploitation investigations, it is expected that the unit may expand as caseloads increase.

In a July 13 press release announcing the unit’s creation, District Attorney David M. Hoovler said his office has spent more than $250,000 to purchase computer equipment for the unit as well as for licenses for the computer programs that can unlock digital devices so that data constituting evidence can be retrieved. He plans on spending approximately $300,000 more on additional equipment, licenses and training.

“Evidence retrieved from cellular telephones and similar digital devices is regularly used to investigate and prosecute cases and the need to retrieve and analyze that evidence continues to grow,” Hoovler said in the release. “It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of crimes, including violent crimes, involve some digital component. Evidence extracted from these devices can include communications between accomplices, threats that have been relayed to victims, the location of defendants during the time of the commission of a crime and even internet searches done in preparation of committing an offense. Importantly, this evidence can also exculpate a person who might otherwise be suspected of an offense.”

Internet Crimes against Children Task Force

Hoovler also announced the creation of the Orange County Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC) to fight child exploitation in Orange County. Similarly to DFU, ICAC is staffed by criminal investigators who have received enhanced training on the forensically sound techniques needed to obtain and preserve digital evidence.

The DFU has also registered as an affiliate of the New York State Internet Crimes against Children Task Force (ICAC). The DFU has entered into partnerships with ICAC on the state and federal level to effectively investigate crimes against children in Orange County and to assist local law enforcement partners with ICAC investigations within their jurisdictions.