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National Computer Forensics Institute
The National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover will provide advanced technology training to law enforcement officials from Alabama and throughout the nation. The institute will help the law enforcement community use the data generated by computers and electronic communications to solve crimes.
Juries today demand scientific and forensic evidence. The number of phones, computers, blackberries, GPS units, and other devices from which information can be extracted is mushrooming. This information can be used to put identity thieves, child molesters, murderers, and even terrorists behind bars. But there is a bottleneck getting this valuable data into the courtroom. What we don’t have is trained, qualified professionals to find, extract, analyze, and preserve the data.
The institute, located at the Hoover Public Safety Center, is truly the culmination of an unprecedented coordinated effort among federal, state, and local governments including the Department of Homeland Security, the Secret Service, Governor Riley, and Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos. The Alabama District Attorneys Association, under the leadership of Randy Hillman, played a critical role in spearheading the project.
Nearly one thousand officers from across the county are expected to receive training at the institute annually. It has been a pleasure to be part of the successful effort to bring this facility to Alabama, and I will work to ensure continued federal support for this important project.
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