Digital evidence plays a pivotal role in roughly 80% of criminal investigations. From text messages and emails to social media posts and GPS data, digital evidence offers law enforcement insights that majorly impact police investigations.
Smartphones, mobile devices, computers, surveillance cameras, and other digital devices have become ubiquitous in daily life. Digital footprints are now critical to establishing timelines, tracking movements, and identifying suspects.
Digital evidence management challenges
Managing digital evidence is a complex task. Ensuring access to authentic evidence is vital to improving case closure rates and the efficiency of law enforcement casework. Major challenges in digital evidence management include:
Growing volume of data. As technology advances, the amount of available data continues to increase exponentially. Law enforcement officers must sift through vast amounts of information to identify relevant assets. This time-consuming process is exacerbated by the fact that digital evidence is often scattered across multiple platforms and devices, each with its own access protocols, file formats, and encryption levels.
Ensuring evidence integrity and security. Since digital files can be easily altered or deleted, police departments and other law enforcement agencies must implement stringent measures to preserve the integrity of evidence throughout the investigation process. This includes maintaining detailed audit trails and using secure storage solutions to prevent tampering or loss. Agencies must comply with legal standards regarding chain of custody to ensure that the evidence can be admissible in court.
Keeping up with rapidly evolving technologies. Cybercriminals continuously develop more sophisticated methods for hiding or encrypting digital evidence. Law enforcement agencies must stay ahead of these techniques through constant updates to their digital forensics capabilities.
- Budget constraints. Staying up to date on the latest digital forensics capabilities requires ongoing investment in training and technology. This can strain already limited budgets and resources at agencies that are being asked to do more with less.
Benefits of digital forensics case management software
Case management software streamlines digital forensics evidence and data handling. With a cohesive platform for collecting, organizing, analyzing, and securely storing digital evidence assets, it ensures information is readily accessible to investigators throughout the investigation process.
Improve data organization
One of the key ways case management software aids digital forensics is by improving data organization. Digital forensics investigations from crime scenes often involve large volumes of evidence from multiple sources, such as social media, emails, and body camera footage. Case management systems allow for the seamless integration of this data, making it easier to categorize and link to specific cases. Investigators can quickly retrieve relevant information, cross-reference pieces of evidence, and establish connections between data points, improving the investigative process.
Investigative case management solutions such as Appian’s that offer an AI chatbot save valuable time by uncovering insights from case documents. They also make it easier for others to quickly get up to speed and can help identify relationships across cases that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Maintain chain of custody
Digital forensics case management software maintains chain of custody, which is critical for the admissibility of digital evidence in court. The software automatically logs who accessed data, when, and what actions were taken, creating a digital audit trail that preserves the integrity of evidence. This helps law enforcement agencies prove that evidence has not been tampered with or compromised to maintain its legal validity.
Facilitate collaboration
Digital forensics investigations often involve multiple departments or agencies. Case management systems provide a shared workspace for teams to collaborate in real time, reducing the risk of miscommunication or data duplication and ensuring that all investigators have access to the most up-to-date information. These systems also help streamline workflows by automating notifications and task assignments, keeping teams aligned and on track.
Ensure security and compliance
Digital evidence management software enhances security and compliance. Digital evidence must be securely stored to protect it from tampering, unauthorized access, or data breaches. Many case management platforms offer encryption, role-based access controls, and other security features to safeguard sensitive data. The software can help public safety agencies adhere to legal and regulatory requirements by automating compliance checks and providing easy-to-generate reports for court proceedings or internal audits.
Case study: Digitally transforming matter management
The Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP), the largest criminal legal practice in Victoria, Australia, faced difficulties in preparing cases for prosecution due to fragmented systems, a large amount of multimedia evidence, and the increasing complexity of cases. They needed a digital evidence management system that offered a unified experience with smooth data integration.
After an extensive search, OPP selected Appian for its new Amicus matter management system. The Appian solution accelerates criminal case management by automating manual tasks and connecting all stakeholders in streamlined, end-to-end workflows. Using Appian’s patented data fabric, it integrates disparate legacy systems to provide a unified view of data that can be accessed by all stakeholders in real time.
Appian’s low-code architecture appealed to OPP for its adaptability and ease of use. In fact, the user-friendly interface and human-centered design of their new digital evidence management solution won it the coveted Australian Good Design Award in the digital transformation category.
OPP expects the Appian solution to make criminal case management faster and easier, improving public safety and confidence in the criminal justice system.
