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Discovering Digital Evidence:  It's Everywhere...

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Instructor:

Special Agent Michael Swiercz, Michigan Department of Attorney General, Criminal Investigations Division - Major Case Section, former Detective, Monroe County Sheriffs Office.

Special Agent Swiercz is assigned to investigations involving public corruption, hate crimes, election law violations, criminal enterprises, CSAM, and other complex criminal matters. He is also assigned to the Michigan State Police ICAC Task Force / Computer Crimes Unit, where he serves as a Digital Forensic Analyst. His primary role involves identifying, collecting, and analyzing digital evidence, including phone records, social media data, and mobile and computer forensic evidence related to criminal investigations.

Prior to his current position at the Attorney General’s Office, Special Agent Swiercz served as a detective at a local sheriff’s office and was a member of the agency’s Human Trafficking Task Force and Cold Case Homicide Team.

Special Agent Swiercz is recognized as a subject matter expert in Cellular Record Mapping & Analysis, Digital Media Extraction & Analysis, and Internet Service Providers / Social Media Investigations. He holds several nationally recognized certifications in digital forensics and has presented on these topics at the internationally attended Crimes Against Children Conference.

Course Description:

This course is designed for investigators assigned to investigate complex investigations and frequently review electronic records, phone/computer extraction reports, and location/phone records. This course will expand the attendees’ knowledge of what digital evidence is available to them. The goal of this course is for attendees to confidently navigate through the records to locate relevant data that may be key evidence hidden in plain sight.

In the highly connected culture society has evolved into, digital footprints are everywhere. That footprint is just as important—if not more critical—than traditional forms of evidence in criminal investigations. When investigators know where to look, digital breadcrumbs can lead directly to the truth.

Digital evidence has become one of the most prevalent and ever-changing pieces of evidence pertaining to investigations. Attendees will learn what tools and techniques to utilize that can link suspects to the crimes being investigated.

Topics Include:

  • Determining/Linking various accounts to criminals
  • Technology/Techniques used to obtain Location Data
  • Mobile Device Evidence Preservation - Best Practices
  • Reverse Loccation / Keyword Searches
  • Internet Service Providers (ISP) - Google, Apple, Snapchat, etc.
  • Social Media/Networking Records
  • Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
  • Cloud Storage
  • Search Warrant Standards pertaining to electronic data records

Required Equipment: Department issued Laptop (may need your department's IT to unlock so that you have the ability to download tools/programs)

Course Details:

- 302 Funds Eligible -

*No shows WILL be billed unless cancellation is received five days prior to the class start*