“This isn’t your father’s police force”: Digital evidence in sexual assault investigations

Technology as a source of complexity and challenge for special victims unit (SVU) investigators

“…Researchers show that these shortcomings, in combination with the huge amount of digital information now involved in many criminal cases, result in backlogs that considerably lengthen the timelines of many investigations (Vincze, 2016). We find these shortcomings have particular impacts in sex crime units wherein-as discussed above-preexisting relationships between most victims and offenders result in high levels of digital communication to sort through and-as discussed below-victims are particularly at risk of revictimization due to the shortcomings (e.g., lengthy investigations and delayed trials) of the criminal justice system (Dodge et al, 2019).…”

“…Our interviewees described a situation in which a huge increase in the volume of digital evidence in sex crime cases has not been met with an equal increase in resources and staffing for digital forensic and tech crime units. Additionally, as Marissa expressed, there is a need for broader organizational change and training to allow all officers to deal with this evidence to some extent (Dodge et al, 2019). The under-resourcing of digital forensics units and digital training for police officers is well documented within the broader policing literature (Vincze, 2016).…”

“…Officers also mentioned, however, that often overburdened sex crime units do not have enough officers to allow for frequent absences for training. Yet it may be necessary to prioritize this training, as many officers assert that the most difficult part of modern sexual assault investigations is keeping up with the rapid rate of technological change (Dodge et al, 2019).…”

“…We are not the first to observe that digital evidence has become a routine feature of SVU work. A study of sex crimes’ investigators released in 2019 similarly made the case that “digital evidence is now an element in the vast majority of cases” (Dodge et al, 2019: 6). These authors noted the “huge increase in [the] volume of digital evidence in sex crime cases” (Dodge et al, 2019: 8; see also Vincze, 2016), as do we.…”

“…A study of sex crimes’ investigators released in 2019 similarly made the case that “digital evidence is now an element in the vast majority of cases” (Dodge et al, 2019: 6). These authors noted the “huge increase in [the] volume of digital evidence in sex crime cases” (Dodge et al, 2019: 8; see also Vincze, 2016), as do we. In this study, we also rely on interviews with police investigators ( n = 14) to guide an initial understanding of the complexity of their work, and the role that technology plays in creating an ever-shifting landscape within which they must constantly learn and adapt.…”