Tools E: Forensics
Establish a worldwide network of scientific services that maximizes forensics in combating terrorism, cyber-based attacks,
and crime.
Other Information:
Situation: The proper collection, preservation, and forensic analysis of evidence is a tremendous tool that must be fully
exploited. Since its inception, the FBI has been the world leader in using science to solve crimes. During its first year
of operation in 1932, the FBI’s forensics unit conducted 963 examinations. Currently, the FBI conducts more than one million
forensic examinations annually. The types of investigations addressed forensically by the FBI include terrorism, espionage,
public corruption, civil rights, criminal organizations and enterprises, white collar, and violent crime. Not only has the
volume of evidence received increased dramatically, but the complexity of the examination methods, as well as the complex
nature of the investigations themselves have increased. Often, forensic analysis is the only means to provide conclusive information
to a jury to assist them in their determination of guilt or innocence. Forensics is also an essential tool in combating terrorism
in that it provides evidence that establishes links and associations that can withstand judicial scrutiny in the United States
and abroad. Moreover, comprehensive crime scene searches and the subsequent forensic analysis of evidence is sometimes the
only solid intelligence that exists or the only mechanism to corroborate other intelligence reporting. FBI forensic analysis
was essential in piecing together the evidence to identify those responsible for, as well as the supporters of, every terrorist
attack against the United States, including the mid-air bombing of Pan Am Flight #103, the bombing of the World Trade Center
in 1993, the bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building in 1995, the bombing of the two United States Embassies in East
Africa, the attack against the U.S.S. Cole, and the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In January 2003,
the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors — Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) board of delegates voted to
adopt Digital Evidence as an accreditable discipline. The Investigative Technology Division conducts forensic examinations
in the discipline of Digital Evidence as defined by the ASCLD/LAB. These examinations are performed at FBI Headquarters and
field offices by certified forensic examiners. The evolving threat environment increasingly requires the rapid deployment
of FBI forensic examiners to locations around the world in order to collect and preserve evidence that could otherwise be
lost forever. FBI forensic resources are increasingly being called upon to support high profile criminal investigations in
other countries because of the FBI’s unique forensic expertise and capability. The FBI will also need to help develop the
forensic capabilities of other countries and to leverage existing capabilities within the United States through partnerships
with other forensic laboratories and scientists to provide the optimum level of forensic services to meet the increasing demands.
It is imperative that constant improvements in forensic analysis be sought through a robust research and development program
and that these improvements be quickly deployed to support the entire forensic community. With the exponential growth of the
World Wide Web, terrorists, foreign actors, and criminals are increasingly using this technology, along with encryption, to
facilitate their operations. The FBI and its partners must keep up with the increasing demands required in providing timely
forensic analysis of computer-related evidence in support of terrorism, foreign intelligence, cyber, and criminal investigations.
Strategic Objectives
Objective(s):
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