As technology has increasingly become part of our lives in the past two decades, criminals have used technology for nefarious purposes. This has resulted in an increase of cyber crimes, or crimes committed via the Internet and/or with electronic devices. Examples of cyber crimes include hacking, identity theft, invasion of privacy, online stalking, transaction fraud, and more. Tech savvy criminals…
As technology in the courtroom has become the norm, lawyers, judges, juries, and other courtroom-adjacent professionals have been forced to adapt. The American Bar Association even passed a technological competency rule in 2012. Known to professionals as Rule 1.1, it requires lawyers to “keep abreast of changes in the law and its practice, including the benefits and risks associated with…
Digital evidence has changed the legal and criminal justice system. Today, forensics and evidence is much more complicated than haphazardly discarded weapons and chalk outlines. Almost all crimes, not just cybercrimes committed in the digital sphere, have some sort digital evidence attached. The vast digital footprints left behind by criminals can be used to either prosecute or prove innocence. As…
In the criminal justice system today, digital evidence is just as if not more prevalent and important than physical evidence. Information on an iPhone or text messages hold the same weight in the courtroom as eyewitness testimony. Even with the rise of digital evidence, there is still a disconnect between police and identifying this evidence. A survey conducted by Thomas…
Trial judges are encouraging courtroom technology. It is not uncommon to see both prosecuting and defending lawyers using technology to keep a jury’s attention. Both jurors and judges expect to see technology in the courtroom because of the tech-driven world we live in. Technology has transformed every aspect of our lives, including the legal system. Lawyers have learned to use technology…
On December 1, North Carolina became the last state to adopt the “Raise the Age” law that prevents 16- and 17-year-olds from being charged with crimes. The state General Assembly passed the law back in 2017. Other states including Louisiana, South Carolina, New York, North Carolina, and Missouri have the same law that raises the age of juvenile court to…
Researchers at the Purdue University Polytechnic Institute have developed a new AI software that searches storage sites like Google Drive and DropBox for digital criminal evidence. Data in the cloud can be difficult for law enforcement to access as is identifying the owner of the data. Researchers created a forensic cloud model to scan images, videos, and other files. The…
Tech company Boston Dynamics has partnered with the Massachusetts State Police bomb squad to test their new robot dog, Spot. Spot has been leased from Boston Dynamics for testing. It is unknown what Spot will be doing for the police. A spokesperson said that Spot is being used as a “mobile remote observation device” to monitor suspicious packages and possible…
