Method and apparatus for controlling digital evidence

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling digital evidence comprising creating a case record comprising information about an investigative case, electronically storing at least one piece of digital evidence into memory, and associating the stored at least one piece of evidence with the case record.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60 / 852,859, filed Oct. 19, 2006, which is herein incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a method and apparatus for controlling evidence and, more particularly, a method and apparatus for storing, retrieving, maintaining, deleting and tracking the chain of custody of digital evidence.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In today's legal system, evidence is an essential aspect of litigation. Evidence must be carefully accumulated, stored under state or federal rules, and tracked throughout its existence. For a document or an object to be useable as evidence in a court room, such document or object must comply with all the laws applicable to evidence retrieval, maintenance, and tracking. In other words, evidence must remain authentic and its chain o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a way to manage digital evidence in a case record. It involves creating a case record with information about the investigation, saving the evidence in a digital format and associating it with the case record. This invention helps to organize and manage digital evidence in a more efficient way.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, with numerous people interacting with the evidence, it becomes challenging to maintain the authenticity and the chain of custody of evidence.

It authenticity or chain of custody of a piece of evidence is challenged, the court may disallow the use of such evidence in a court room.

In some cases, such as criminal cases, the cost of improper space handling of evidence maybe someone's freedom or life.

The challenges of handling evidence are exacerbated when the evidence is digital evidence, i.e., information stored upon a disk drive, compact disk (CD), or other digital media.

Such digital evidence, if not properly handled, can be easily corrupted or destroyed.

Furthermore, due to the intangible nature of digital evidence, tracking the chain of custody of digital evidence is difficult.

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