Investigations

During this reporting period, there were no peer-to-peer technical assistance requests received or recommended by BJA. For cost savings, virtual peer exchanges may also be considered as online virtual platforms have been integrated into IIR’s core operations.

The CenTF website includes task force-related TTA offerings, both on-site and online, and a wealth of field-related resources. The CenTF website continues to be maintained and monitored by the IIR team.

During the reporting period, 58 inquiries were submitted and responded to via the CenTF website, 311 new users registered for the training, and 1,408 certificates of completion were earned across four online courses:

IIR ensures that there is, within the Leadership lesson of the Fundamentals of Task Force Operations Training curriculum, instruction on the importance of data collection, as well as the value of performance measures to determine and demonstrate the effectives of the task force in addressing and reducing crime. Instruction further includes guidance on setting performance objectives, identifying key performance indicators, and an explanation of how performance measurement is used to develop task force strategies, goals, and objectives.

Two quarterly reports, for periods April 1 to June 30, 2024, and July 1 to
September 30, 2024, were provided to BJA during the reporting period and included details regarding the development of the virtual course and the podcast series. The report also detailed the number of certificates of completion earned for the four online training offerings.

At BJA’s direction, in lieu of in-person courses, work was completed on the new virtual course—the Fundamentals of Task Force Operations training, which was provided to BJA for review and approval in October 2024. Refer to Objective 1 for details of this effort and a status of the course development.

Refer to Objective 2, Deliverable 7, for details on activity completed for the five-part podcast series—Proactive Policing in Today’s Society for Multijurisdictional and Specialty Enforcement Units.

Virtual Course: In October 2024, all seven course modules, quizzes, and student handbooks were completed and the package submitted to BJA for review and approval. By the end of this reporting period, the course package was still in review by BJA.

This course aims to enhance cultural competency and foster positive relationships with Indigenous communities and the importance of cultural competency in lawyering and policing. Participants will learn about the intersection of culture and community engagement, historical context, and building cultural awareness through self-reflection and bias awareness. Through practical application, participants will use dialogue and collaboration to build trust, accountability, acknowledge historical injustices, and develop ongoing cultural competency.

This webinar explores the identification and forensic challenges surrounding the acquisition and utilization of evidence from homebuilt or modified IoT devices in criminal investigations. It traces IoT's evolution, evaluates the impact of single-board computer and micro controller technology, and discusses uses and evidence sources to include IoT surveillance systems. Attendees gain essential insights into identifying the fundamental components of these systems while enhancing their ability to navigate the unique complexities inherent in DIY IoT devices.

The Internet of Things (IoT) encompasses a complex network of data, demanding a thorough understanding and careful planning for its retrieval, management, and subsequent examination within the context of criminal investigations. From this training program, learn comprehensive exploration of the diverse devices and interconnected systems responsible for generating valuable data. Participants will actively engage in live demonstrations, acquiring practical skills for extracting and analyzing this data using non-forensic methods.