Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE- The University of Wisconsin-Platteville will soon be in a position to aid law enforcement statewide by helping to process evidence with a new Digital Forensic Analysis Laboratory, according to UWP police officer Jason Williams and UWP criminal justice instructor Joseph LeFevre. The lab will be used for the recovery and analysis of digital data in criminal investigations. Digital data can be found on computers, cameras and other electronic devices.

Williams and LeFevre came up with the idea and suggested it to Scott Marquardt, chief of University Police. Marquardt suggested drafting a project proposal, which in turn was submitted to Chancellor Markee, now retired, who approved the proposal and authorized a search for funding through grants.

"LeFevre and I will be trained as digital forensic examiners and will be the investigators in digital data-type crimes for the university and any other law enforcement agencies," said Williams.

The grant money will fund the initial equipment required for such work, including a Forensic Recovery Computer, its software and the appropriate training for both Williams and LeFevre to become proficient in data recovery and analysis.

"The lab will greatly benefit UWP in a number of ways," added Williams. "The campus will gain recognition as one of the only UW schools to have a digital forensics analysis lab. Also, by installing a lab on our campus, we will be able to assist police agencies, including our own, with timely, accurate and forensically sound data analysis."

Williams also said that most police departments in Wisconsin send their digital evidence to the state of Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation's Computer Crimes Unit for analysis, which has caused a large backlog of cases resulting in slow turnaround for results. UWP's data analysis lab could assist in the reduction of the pending analyses and help make convictions in these cases more timely. UWP would also be able to charge a nominal fee for this service that could aid in the continuing education and training of digital data analysis.

Because the lab will be assisting in real criminal investigations for law enforcement, access to the lab will be restricted. "We have to be very careful about who has access to evidence, just like any other crime lab," said LeFevre. "However, as the criminal justice department continues to develop the forensic investigation major, a class on data forensics could happen. While students can't come in the lab, we could equip a computer classroom with software used in the lab and teach basic data recovery and evidence handling."

For more information about the new lab, contact Williams at (608) 342-1584 or williaja@uwplatt.edu, or LeFevre at (608) 342-1676 or lefevrej@uwplatt.edu.

Contact: Jason Williams, police officer, UWP Police Department, (608) 342-1584, williaja@uwplatt.edu Written by: Ian Clark, UWP Office of Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, clarki@uwplatt.edu