Collection & Acquisition Report - Digital Forensics Module, University

This report focuses on the critical aspects of collection and acquisition within the realm of digital forensics. It begins with an introduction to the significance of these processes at a crime scene, emphasizing the roles of crime scene investigators and forensic scientists in case management. The report then explains the methods used for evidence collection, differentiating between physical and digital crime scene investigations, and highlighting the importance of documentation. A critical evaluation of these methods follows, addressing challenges such as maintaining documentation integrity and the impact of external influences on investigations. The report concludes with a reflection on personal experiences from the module, emphasizing the importance of maintaining data integrity and addressing risks associated with digital evidence collection. The report also mentions the use of cryptographic hash functions to maintain the integrity of the evidence, although some digitally signed information cannot be retrieved with the help of cryptographic hashes. The initial theory created by the investigative officers must be aligned with the shreds of evidence which is obtained from the crime scene.

Running head: COLLECTION & ACQUISITION
Collection & acquisition
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1COLLECTION & ACQUISITION
Table of Contents
1. Introduction............................................................................................................................2
2. Explanation of the methods....................................................................................................2
3. Critical evaluation of the method:..........................................................................................2
4. Conclusion based on personal experience..............................................................................3
5. Conclusion..............................................................................................................................3
6. Reference................................................................................................................................4

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1. Introduction
Acquisition and collection are the two most significant aspects of any crime scene
(Palmbach 2016). In my opinion, case management issues can be successfully solved with
the help of the crime scene investigators and forensic scientists (Scholz et al. 2019). This
reflective essay shall be focussing on the methods by which evidences are collected by the
crime scene experts and critically evaluate the methods.
2. Explanation of the methods
In my opinion, there are numerous phases of physical crime scene investigation such
as the preservation of the evidence, survey and documentation of the evidence, physical
crime scene reconstruction, and presentation of a complete theory. On the other hand, I also
believe that digital crime scene investigation there are phases such as preservation and
survey of the digital scene, digital prime scene reconstruction (Gupta, Kalaimannan and Yoo
2016). Documentation is common among the two types of crime scene investigation
procedure, and it is very much significant to preserve and record essential details of the crime
scene. Development of an initial theory about the crime is one of the prime responsibilities
of the investigating officers as per my understanding. I think that the role of corporate
management is also very much essential to present the digital and physical evidences of a
crime. I can agree with the fact that the integrity of the pieces of evidence is maintained with
the help of the cryptographic hash function.
3. Critical evaluation of the method
On the other hand, it can be said that maintaining documentation in both the two types
of investigation procedures is very much challenging for forensic experts (Nataraja Moorthy
2017). I believe that there are lots of external influences in certain criminal cases and any

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sort of discrepancy in the documentation procedure might have an adverse impact on the
entire investigation procedure. I also believe that the errors in documenting the volatility of
the evidence can also have an adverse effect on any specific case study. However, some of
the digitally signed information cannot be retrieved with the help of the cryptographic hashes
as well. I also believe that the initial theory created by the investigative officers must be
aligned with the shreds of evidence which is obtained from the crime scene.
4. Conclusion based on personal experience
Based on my personal experience from this module, I can conclude that forensic
scientists must be maintaining the integrity of the data which are collected by the
investigative officers from a crime scene. The module helped me to understand that there are
diverse categories of risk related to the collection of digital evidence, which has to be
addressed in a systemized modus.
5. Conclusion
There are numerous phases related to both physical as well as digital crime scene
investigation procedure and documentation is very much common in each of these two
procedures. Errors in documentation can have an adverse impact on the crime scene
investigation procedure. Investigating officers develops an initial theory in every crime scene
investigation. Cryptographic hash functions are very much useful to maintain the integrity of
the evidence; however some of the digitally signed information cannot be retrieved using the
cryptographic hashes.

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6. Reference
Gupta, J.N., Kalaimannan, E. and Yoo, S.M., 2016. A heuristic for maximizing investigation
effectiveness of digital forensic cases involving multiple investigators. Computers &
Operations Research, 69, pp.1-9.
Nataraja Moorthy, T., 2017. Neglected Physical Evidence during Crime Scene Investigation.
J Forensic Sci, 31(1), pp.143-152.
Palmbach, T.M., 2016. Crime Scene Investigation and Examination: Chain of Evidence.
Scholz, D., Oeldemann, A., Geyer, F., Gallenmüller, S., Stubbe, H., Wild, T., Herkersdorf, A.
and Carle, G., 2019, September. Cryptographic Hashing in P4 Data Planes. In 2019
ACM/IEEE Symposium on Architectures for Networking and Communications Systems
(ANCS) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.