Forensic Examination of Digital Evidence

This guide is intended for use by law enforcement officers and other members of the law enforcement community who are responsible for the examination of digital evidence. This guide is not all-inclusive. Rather, it deals with common situations encountered during the examination of digital evidence. It is not a mandate for the law enforcement community; it is a guide agencies can use to help them develop their own policies and procedures. Technology is advancing at such a rapid rate that the suggestions in this guide are best examined in the context of current technology and practices. Each case is unique and the judgment of the examiner should be given deference in the implementation of the procedures suggested in this guide. Circumstances of individual cases and Federal, State, and local laws/rules may also require actions other than those described in this guide. When dealing with digital evidence, the following general forensic and procedural principles should be applied: Actions taken to secure and collect digital evidence should not affect the integrity of that evidence; Persons conducting an examination of digital evidence should be trained for that Purpose; Activity relating to the seizure, examination, storage, or transfer of digital evidence should be documented, preserved, and available for review. Through all of this, the examiner should be cognizant of the need to conduct an accurate and impartial examination of the digital evidence.