LCDI | Champlain College | Champlain College

The Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation provides computer forensics and digital investigation operational support, training, research, and other technical services to assist law enforcement agencies in Vermont and throughout the nation in areas related to computer forensics and other digital investigations.

Mission

The overriding mission of The Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation (LCDI) is to advance the field of digital investigation practice, with a particular focus on law enforcement and the public sector.

The LCDI will act as:

A center of education, training, and information resources for digital investigation, law enforcement, government and higher education communities
A credible and neutral source of information and services for Vermont and the Northeast region of the United States
A research and professional development hub for Champlain College students and faculty

Projects

The Patrick Leahy Center for Digital Investigation has been developed to advance several major initiatives.

An ongoing challenge for Digital Forensic professionals is the verification and validation of the tools (both hardware and software) used to perform analysis. A number of efforts have been made to address this issue however they have all focused on conducting validation tests and providing the results to the community. One of the major challenges facing early efforts was the attempt to use software validation techniques on the forensic software and evaluate every function. One quote for the validation of a common commercial tool was $1,500,000. More recently it has been proposed to use a function based approach, where specific functions of a tool will be evaluated. This approach is more feasible for small organizations (for example a law enforcement digital forensic examiner). However it is still not feasible for practitioners to evaluate every relevant function of their tools.
The MARVV project seeks to create a system that will enable the sharing of test methods, test data and test results amongst the digital forensic community, significantly reducing duplication of effort and providing a framework for the testing of tools. Create six training modules that address four content areas: "new-to-market" digital devices, "new-to-Vermont" digital forensic software tools, preparing and reading digital forensics reports, and understanding digital forensics.
Provide six trainings to examiners, detectives, first responders, and members of the judiciary using the training modules via face-to-face, online, and video methods. Online refreshers and updates will be made available via online training methods.
Establish and manage secure information-sharing networks among examiners and detectives that include, as appropriate: a project website, social networks, an issue-response system, a digital library of the results of trainings and student research, and other types of networks.
Bring two digital forensics specialists to Burlington to offer specialized trainings in processing, managing, and using digital evidence for examiners, detectives, first responders, members of the judiciary, and Champlain digital forensic and information technology students.

The LCDI is made possible by funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and Champlain College, as well as material support from the Burlington Police Department, Vermont State Police and the Vermont Internet Crimes Task Force (ICTF).