Job Description
Duties and Requirements Click to read more
Duties
- The Digital Forensics Specialist advises the unit supervisor in planning, coordinating, and directing digital forensic activities.
- Inventories, examines and performs complex technical analyses of computer-related evidence such as digital media, including hard drives, cell phones, optical disks, memory cards, and other electronic data storage media.
- Locates, examines, and collects digital evidence that may exist on external “cloud” servers.
- Prepares written findings, displays, or graphic representations for court presentation; testifies and interprets findings established by laboratory analyses and may serve as a qualified expert witness.
- Conducts research into new methods and procedures of scientific criminal investigation; maintains awareness of new developments in digital forensics; and incorporates new developments as appropriate within policy guidelines.
- Works with other law enforcement agencies to coordinate findings or seek alternative digital forensic analysis methods.
- Participates in law enforcement working groups and/or task forces as directed. Participates in meetings or other related groups.
- Provides local law enforcement agencies with forensic research, application, advanced casework, methodology development, and training.
- Processes crime scenes and/or clandestine laboratory scenes for video evidence and physical evidence and reconstructs the events of the crime from the evidence.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Requirements
Ability to:
- Troubleshoot, repair, and optimize a variety of computer types, peripheral equipment, software, and networks.
- Disassemble suspect computers.
- Identify and analyze data available on computers taken in investigations.
- Gather and preserve evidence.
- Work as a team member.
- Operate laboratory computer equipment and software.
- Provide technical support to Police Investigators.
- Give and follow oral and written instructions.
- Maintain adequate record-keeping systems.
- Write reports and correspondence.
- Testify in court.
Knowledge of:
- Principles, practices, and techniques used in computer systems criminal investigation.
- Evidence collection.
- Analysis and documentation of investigations.
- Computer hardware, software, and networks.
- Specialized forensic software.
- Standard business and personal computer software and the internet.
- Computer operating systems.
- Departmental practices and procedures.
- Applicable laws, rules and regulations such as California Penal Code, California Health & Safety Code, California Vehicle Code, California Evidence Code, Municipal Code and various training and information bulletins.
Experience & Education Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required abilities is qualifying.
A typical way to obtain these abilities would be:
- Equivalent to an Associate’s degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice, forensic science, or related field -AND- a minimum of two years’ experience in criminal investigation and/or personal computer and network hardware and software.
License & Certification
- Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license upon appointment; must pass an extensive background check.
The employee may be required to be on-call for crime scene investigations after normal working hours.
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