As court cases increasingly involve the use of digital evidence, the demand for experts who can evaluate how that evidence was collected and analyzed—and then explain that process to the court— has also grown. This article provides attorneys with a baseline understanding to help them better assess potential digital forensic experts.

Wynona’s House is launching a new community-based prevention program — prompted by a presentation from child-abuse expert Michael Johnson — that encourages culturally appropriate conversations between parents and children, improves education, and aims to reduce risks of abuse and neglect for families in Essex County.

This article explores the research on the sexual abuse of boys and offers concrete suggestions for conducting forensic interviews with these children, investigating crimes against boys, and presenting these cases to a jury.

Provides 8 introductory considerations for prosecutors, and addresses the complexity and challenges faced when working cases involving remotely stored and encrypted data. It also explores investigative procedures and legal process best practices when obtaining electronic evidence.

Provides 7 advanced strategies for prosecutors, as well as guidance for dealing with cloud providers and other stakeholders. Zero Abuse Project developed this article to serve as a reference for prosecutors and investigators facing challenges when working cases involving remotely stored data.

Prosecutors handling cases involving children with disabilities must be prepared to serve and advocate for individual child victims’ unique physical, cognitive, and/or emotional needs. This guide will address each of these components of the prosecution, and conclude with sample motions to implement recommendations.

Even though signed search warrants are legally binding court orders, Big Tech still may not comply. This guide acknowledges common privacy concerns that make data more difficult for the government to obtain, and lays out six strategies for prosecutors confronting objections from electronic service providers.

The number of online child-sexual abuse reports from West Virginia surged during the pandemic — about 1,791 tips were submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in 2021, roughly 50% more than in 2019.

Seeking to introduce a forensic interview is not an ancillary matter in child abuse prosecution. In many cases, it is the most critical, persuasive piece of evidence for the jury’s consideration. This guide will equip entry level prosecutors with an understanding of relevant admissibility law in their jurisdiction, and encourage seasoned prosecutors to take a fresh look at the several viable options for forensic interview admissibility.

David Pittman (A GRACE Safeguarding Specialist and Director of Together We Heal) and Robert Peters (Senior Attorney at Zero Abuse Project) discuss safety, the first key principle of trauma-informed care, from the perspective of abuse prevention and response within faith communities.

January 24, 2022

Offers a comprehensive guide for prosecutors and law enforcement on navigating the complexities of obtaining remotely stored data, both domestically and internationally. This article provides an overview of relevant laws, including the Stored Communications Act and the CLOUD Act, and offers practical guidance on obtaining and using digital evidence in criminal investigations.

November 2020 — Episode of Profiling Evil by Mike King, featuring Joseph Remy, Robert Peters, Timothy Saar, and Amber Higgins

A child-welfare expert speaking to WBOY warned that reports of child abuse and exploitation on social media are rising — especially involving online grooming, exploitation and abuse by predators using social-media platforms.

Discusses the challenges of introducing digital evidence, the importance of due diligence, and the ongoing debate about encryption. The article also touches on finding qualified digital forensics experts and the legal issues surrounding geofence warrants and border searches.

The article is a quarterly legal roundup on Forensic Focus covering key issues in digital evidence and due diligence, including challenges with introducing digital evidence, how to find and qualify digital forensic experts, legal questions around geofence and border searches, encryption debates, and due diligence in civil and criminal contexts.

Discusses the challenges faced by digital forensics professionals due to the increasing volume and variety of digital evidence. This article explores the legal complexities surrounding digital evidence, including privacy concerns and the admissibility of screenshots and incomplete data.

Discusses how child abuse was increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic because children have less contact with mandated reporters. The article also details seven ways to help prevent child abuse.

Focuses on the 6th and 14th Amendments regarding chain of custody, authentication, discovery, the right to a speedy trial, and due-process concerns.

Considers search, seizure, and punishment implications for the 4th and 8th Amendments, as well as the right-to-counsel clause of the 6th Amendment.

May 2020 — BronxNet Open 2.0 interview with Robert Peters about Zero Abuse Project