SHERIFF_AnnualReport_8.5x11_041521_WEB

COMPUTER
FORENSICS
TODAY’S
HIGH-TECH
ENVIRONMENT
PRESENTS NEW
CHALLENGES
TO LAW
ENFORCEMENT
and the justice system, as cyber
criminals 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 challenges by having a
Digital Forensics Examiner dedicated
solely to the extraction and analysis of
digital devices and related activities.
The unit’s duties include examining,
disassembling, reassembling, evaluating,
extracting data, and interpreting
data from computer hardware, smart
phones, data storage devices, media
storage devices, compact discs,
DVDs, and detached or attached hard
drives. In 2020, over 240 digital
evidence items were collected and
analyzed for the assigned Sheriff’s Office
personnel responsible for the specific
investigation so that they can be
presented in a court of law.
The Sheriff’s Office is a member of the
Central California Internet Crimes
Against Children Task Force (ICAC). The
Central California ICAC is dedicated to
protecting children online and investigating
crimes committed against children
and are facilitated by the Internet and
computer usage. The forensics unit
works in conjunction with the Sheriff’s
SAFE (Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement
Team) in investigating these cases.
The Computer Forensics Unit is part of
the San Luis Obispo County Central
Coast Cyber Forensic Laboratory (3CFL),
under the management of the SLO
County District Attorney’s Office. The
unit works closely with allied agencies
within the county to make these
specialized capabilities available to
their respective investigative units.
Advanced training and new equipment
have continued to be made available
for both computer and mobile device
evidence recovery through a strategic
partnership with the National
Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI),
the United States Secret Service, and
the Sheriff’s Office. This aids in the
effort to suppress the continually
evolving and increasing number of
electronic crime cases affecting the
San Luis Obispo County community.
LEAD THE WAY ANNUAL REPORT 2020
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