Resources and Links

FBI Web site


FBI's Handbook of Forensic Services — The purpose of the Handbook of Forensic Services is to provide guidance and procedures for safe and efficient methods of collecting and preserving evidence and to describe the forensic examinations performed by the FBI Laboratory.


FBI Laboratory Home — FBI Laboratory personnel provide forensic examinations, technical support, expert witness testimony, and training to federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.


FBI Operational Technology Division (OTD) — The Operational Technology Division (OTD) supports the FBI's investigative and intelligence-gathering efforts—and those of our federal, state, and local law enforcement/intelligence partners—with a wide range of sophisticated technological equipment, examination tools and capabilities, training, and specialized experience. You won't hear about our work on the evening news because of its highly sensitive nature, but you will continue to hear about the fruits of our labor—the terrorist plot averted, the spy caught red-handed, the rescued kidnap victim, and the dismantled child pornography ring. And as the pace of technological advancement continues at warp-speed and as more terrorists and criminals make use of these advances, OTD's highly-skilled personnel are working every day to ensure that the FBI and our partners maintain our technological edge.


DOJ Web site


Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) — This publication provides a comprehensive guide to the legal issues that arise when federal law enforcement agents search and seize computers and obtain electronic evidence in criminal investigations. The topics covered include the application of the Fourth Amendment to computers and the Internet, the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, workplace privacy, the law of electronic surveillance, and evidentiary issues. This updated version includes discussion of significant changes to relevant Federal law arising from the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, and supersedes the previous version of "Searching and Seizing Computers and Obtaining Electronic Evidence in Criminal Investigations," published January 2001, as well as "Federal Guidelines for Searching and Seizing Computers" (1994), and the Guidelines 1997 and 1999 Supplements.


Citizen's Guide to United States Federal Exploitation and Obscenity Laws - Child Pornography — Child pornography is defined by law as the "visual depiction of a person under the age of 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct." Because child pornography is considered illegal contraband, having this material in your possession is against the law. To better understand the laws against child pornography, read the Citizens Guide to United States Federal Exploitation and Obscenity Laws. Citizens can also contact their local police department or FBI office to report someone they suspect is involved with child pornography.


International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists (IACIS) — IACIS is an international volunteer non-profit corporation composed of law enforcement professionals dedicated to education in the field of forensic computer science. IACIS members represent Federal, State, Local and International Law Enforcement professionals. Regular IACIS members have been trained in the forensic science of seizing and processing computer systems.


Internet Fraud Complaint Center — The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). IC3's mission is to serve as a vehicle to receive, develop, and refer criminal complaints regarding the rapidly expanding arena of cyber crime. The IC3 gives the victims of cyber crime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations. For law enforcement and regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international level, IC3 provides a central referral mechanism for complaints involving Internet related crimes.


National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Web page — The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children ...


Continuing Education Series — Visit our Continuing Education section to view publications and products produced by the RCFL National Program Office.