COMPUTER FORENSICS TODAY’S HIGH-TECH ENVIRONMENT PRESENTS NEW CHALLENGES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE JUSTICE SYSTEM, as cybercriminals exploit computers, mobile devices, and the internet to threaten our banking, financial, and critical infrastructures. Digital technology is used to commit any and every type of crime. The Sheriff’s Office continues to address these
interpreting data from computer hardware, smartphones, data storage
available to their respective investiga-
devices, media storage devices,
tive units. Here, training and current
compact discs, DVDs, and detached or
expertise is shared on cyber-investi-
attached hard drives. In 2021, over 300
gative techniques.
digital evidence items were collected and analyzed for the assigned Sheriff’s Office personnel responsible for the specific investigation to be presented in a court of law.
made available for both computer and mobile device evidence recovery through a strategic partnership with the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI), the United States
Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The
Secret Service, and the Sheriff’s
Central California ICAC is dedicated to
Office. This aids in the effort to
protecting children online and investi-
suppress the continually evolving and
gating crimes committed against
increasing number of electronic crime
children and are facilitated by the
cases affecting the San Luis Obispo
Internet and computer usage. The
County community.
forensics unit works in conjunction with the Sheriff’s SAFE (Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Team) in investigating these child exploitation cases. The Computer Forensics Unit is part of the San Luis Obispo County Central
to the extraction and analysis of
Coast Cyber Forensic Laboratory
digital devices and related activities.
(3CFL), under the management of the
disassembling, reassembling,
equipment have continued to be
Central California Internet Crimes
forensics examiner dedicated solely
evaluating, extracting data, and
Advanced training and new
The Sheriff’s Office is a member of the
challenges by having a digital
The unit’s duties include examining,
these specialized capabilities
SLO County District Attorney’s Office. The unit works closely with allied agencies within the county to make
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