Your Spouse Works At A Middle School And Reports Rumors Of A ✓ Solved

Your Spouse Works At A Middle School And Reports Rumors Of A Teacher

Your spouse works at a middle school and reports rumors of a teacher, Zane Wilkins, molesting some students and taking illicit pictures of them. Zane allegedly viewed these pictures in his office. Your spouse wants you to take a disk image of Zane’s computer and find out whether the rumors are true. Write a report outlining how you would tell your spouse and school administrators to proceed. Also, explain why walking into Zane’s office to acquire a disk image wouldn’t preserve the integrity of the evidence. - APA Style - 1 page

Report on Appropriate Procedures for Digital Evidence Collection

In addressing the allegations concerning Zane Wilkins, it is essential to follow proper digital forensic procedures to ensure the integrity and admissibility of evidence. First, I would advise school administrators to involve certified digital forensic investigators rather than attempting to seize the evidence themselves. This professional approach guarantees that the evidence collection process adheres to established legal and technical standards, minimizing the risk of contamination or alteration.

Specifically, the investigators should perform a controlled environment image of Zane's computer using write-blockers. A write-blocker is a hardware or software tool that prevents any changes to the original data during copying, thus preserving the evidence’s integrity. The process involves creating a bit-for-bit clone of the disk, which can then be analyzed without modifying the original data. This approach ensures that the chain of custody is maintained, and the evidence remains admissible in any subsequent legal proceedings.

Conversely, walking directly into Zane’s office to seize a disk without proper forensic procedures is problematic. Physical access in such a manner risks unintentional modification or damage to the evidence, such as accidental data alteration or contamination. Additionally, such an approach may violate privacy rights and legal standards, leading to questions about the evidence’s validity. Following established forensic protocols not only protects the integrity of the evidence but also upholds legal and ethical standards necessary for prosecution or disciplinary measures.

In conclusion, I recommend that school officials procure a certified digital forensic investigator to perform the disk imaging process using proper tools and methods. This ensures a legitimate, tamper-proof collection of evidence that can substantiate or refute the allegations against Zane Wilkins, thereby facilitating an appropriate resolution within the legal framework.

References

• Casey, E. (2011). Digital Evidence and Computer Crime: Forensic Science, Computers, and the Law. Academic Press.
• Rogers, M. (2019). Digital Investigation Procedures: Preserving Evidence and Ensuring Chain of Custody. Journal of Digital Forensics.
• Carrier, B. (2005). File System Forensic Analysis. Addison-Wesley.
• Nelson, B., Phillips, A., & Steuart, C. (2014). Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations. Cengage Learning.
• Aggarwal, S. (2019). Forensic Investigation Techniques for Digital Devices. Wiley.
• Reith, M., Carvey, H., & Buday, R. (2002). Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations. IBM Press.
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