Digital Technologies for Investigators

Description

The cyber environment has no borders and offers easy anonymity and methods of concealment for criminal actors. It also provides new tools to engage in a range of different criminal activities. For these reasons, this course is designed to assist investigators in solving crimes that involve digital evidence. To start off, course participants first learn about the structure and operation of a computer, networks, and the Internet. With this foundation, participants then learn how to locate and document digital evidence of criminal activity, how to lawfully access and preserve data from a computer system, and how a lawful search and seizure is conducted at a crime scene specific to digital evidence and digital technologies. Lastly, participants learn the legal considerations regarding digital technology investigations, including new and current related case law, and how to use effective wording in search warrants with respect to digital technology.

Format and delivery

Length of course

5 days (combined 25 hrs. online pre-course and in-class)

• Part 1: Approximately 25 hours pre-course reading (self-paced)
• Part 2: 5 days of learning in-class

Class size

maximum 20 participants

Delivery setting

• Part 1: Delivered through CPC LMS (Brightspace) platform
• Part 2: Delivered on-site in class

Learning outcomes

• Understanding the structure and operation of a computer, networks and the Internet
• Understanding current means of electronically communicating the purposes of obtaining evidence
• Knowledge of current digital technologies
• Ability to locate and document evidence of criminal activity
• Understanding the legal considerations regarding digital technology investigations
• Knowledge of new and current computer related case law, including the use of effective wording in search warrants
• Understanding how to lawfully access and preserve data from a computer
• Understanding how to lawfully search and seize potential digital evidence from a crime scene

Eligibility and mandatory requirements

• This course is offered to investigators, law enforcement and government employees from federal, provincial, and municipal agencies or departments that have a role in public safety
• Priority will be given to registrants which already belong to a cybercrime unit or child exploitation unit
• Registrants should be able to:
  • regularly use email, word processing programs, web browsing programs, personalizing their interface screens
  • manage files and folders via Windows Explorer (i.e. create, copy, move and delete files)
  • download and install programs from the Internet
  • troubleshoot and problem solve at a basic level
• Acceptance or refusal in the course is at the discretion of the Canadian Police College
• The online component (Part 1) must be completed before you can be registered into one of the in-class sessions.
  • Once the online component (Part 1) has been completed, it is the responsibility of the participant or their training coordinator to contact the Registrar's office to apply for an in-class session

Assessment

• Success in the course is based on participation and completion of all required assignments and evaluations
• Various evaluation methods will be used
• The online component (Part 1) will include evaluation of content
• The 5-day in-class component (Part 2) will begin with a graded exam that will cover the material from the online component (Part 1)
  • The participant must pass this exam in order to continue on the course

Contact

For more details or other information about the course, please email cpc_registrar-registraire_ccp@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Date modified:

2025-09-25