Reducing Device Seizures Through Smart Triage: My Personal Why
By: Amy Moles
Digital forensics has transformed dramatically over the past decade, and our policies have evolved, shifting from collecting everything on-scene to targeted collection. This shift is driven by the rapid growth of data, the proliferation of digital devices, and increasing investigative demands. These changes have brought about significant challenges, particularly in managing massive storage requirements, meeting tight time constraints, and coping with ever-growing workloads.
To address these obstacles, modern triage processes now focus on reducing unnecessary device collections, streamlining workflows, and minimizing the workload on forensic professionals. This evolution enhances operational efficiency while mitigating collateral risks such as privacy breaches and overburdened teams.
The Challenges of Traditional Collection Methods
Storage Concerns
With ever-increasing device storage capacities, particularly on mobile devices, digital forensic labs are facing an immense burden in terms of storage capacity, costs, and data management. Processing and storing evidence from multiple cases becomes an overwhelming challenge.
Time Constraints
Delaying the triage process until later stages of an investigation can lead to significant delays. Analyzing a large number of devices without prior triage is time-consuming, potentially impeding the progress of investigations. More importantly, delayed evidence analysis can allow predators to continue their activities or evade arrest.
Increased Workload
Forensic labs and technicians are already overwhelmed with high caseloads. Processing all devices at the lab, including those that may contain unrelated or irrelevant data, further strains resources and extends case turnaround times. Investigators need tools and workflows that enable efficient and precise evidence collection.
The Need for On-Scene Triage
On-scene triage empowers investigators to evaluate device relevance in real-time, significantly decreasing the number of devices seized. By focusing solely on those with potential links to crimes like CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material), investigators can protect the privacy of innocent individuals while streamlining the collection process.
Boosting Investigative Efficiency
Triage accelerates the identification and prioritization of critical evidence. By targeting devices likely to contain incriminating material, investigators reduce the need for comprehensive analysis across all devices. This focused approach optimizes resource allocation and alleviates examiner fatigue, allowing deeper, more meaningful analysis where it matters most.
Protecting Innocent Parties – Minimizing Collateral Impact
Triage helps safeguard the privacy and rights of uninvolved individuals. By ruling out irrelevant devices on the scene, investigators avoid unnecessarily confiscating personal property, building trust and fostering cooperation within communities.
For example, in college towns, shared IP addresses among multiple residents in a single home can complicate investigations. Instead of seizing all devices, law enforcement officers can perform triage techniques to quickly rule out unrelated devices, ensuring students aren’t disrupted during critical academic periods like finals or midterms. This measured approach fosters public trust, reduces unnecessary workload, and strengthens perceptions of fairness and justice.
A Personal Story: Why This Matters to Me
As we discuss the importance of triaging digital evidence at the scene, I want to leave you with a reminder: the work we do doesn’t just impact investigations—it impacts lives.
In my current role, I had the opportunity to shadow a search warrant for an ICAC investigation to better understand investigators' workflows and how our toolset, ATRIO, could assist. It was a long day. Three individuals lived in the home—the suspect, his significant other, and her son. Due to the circumstances, the suspect was able to return home that night. He ate dinner at his table. He slept in his bed. He was allowed back inside instead of being arrested that day for his crimes.
What went through my mind at that moment was: I hope that mother does the right thing. I hope she removes herself and her child from that situation. I hope she protects her son at all costs. But I also knew that hope is not always enough.
When I was a child, I experienced trauma that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. My stepbrother, someone I knew and trusted, raped my sister. He was arrested and placed on the sexual offender registry for ten years. He served six months in jail. That was it.
Years later, my family allowed this man back into our home, back into our lives. Holiday gatherings—he was there. Family celebrations—he was there. At fifteen years old, I was dropped off at his home to watch his children. Three little girls. That night, he molested me. I escaped before it escalated into something more. I fought my way out, stole his vehicle, and drove an hour home. When I arrived, my family didn’t believe me. They didn’t protect me. That night, I lost my childhood, my innocence. That night was when my trauma truly began.
What many don’t realize is that trauma doesn’t just happen in a moment. It lingers. It shapes futures. Every day, there are children, families, and individuals living with the aftermath of crimes that could have been prevented or mitigated.
Triage: A Tool for Immediate Protection
When we talk about the importance of immediate digital evidence collection and triage, we’re talking about protecting those who cannot protect themselves—our most vulnerable citizens. We have a duty, as a community and as professionals, to ensure that offenders do not have the chance to return to their homes, their families, or the places where they can harm again. Every minute counts. Every piece of evidence is a key to stopping the cycle of violence.
We are in a position of power. The choices we make on scene, the urgency with which we process digital evidence, can mean the difference between a child being safe tonight or enduring further harm in the future. We are not just upholding the law; we are upholding the very core of what it means to protect and serve.
We owe it to the victims. We owe it to our community. We owe it to our future to act swiftly and efficiently—because no child should ever have to endure what I did. And with your commitment to triaging digital evidence, you’re making sure that fewer children, fewer families, will ever face that kind of trauma again.
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