| The purpose of this study is to establish baseline data concerning the impact digital crime on state and local law enforcement. The researcher will address (a) digital crime characteristics encountered by state and local law enforcement, (b) best practices used by local law enforcement to combat digital crime, (c) recent advancements made to assist local law enforcement to deter digital crime, (d) analysis of the relationship between local law enforcement and federal agencies, and (e) analysis of the relationship between law enforcement and the legal and judicial branches concerning digital crime prosecution. A triangulated strategy includes participant observation, a survey, comparison of current findings to prior research and individual personal interviews with law enforcement officials who have agencies with high technology crime units.;Keywords. Digital forensics, computer crime, cybercrime. |
