Empowering Justice System Actors in the Digital Age: Pilot Study Results from a Cyber Investigations Training

• In Event: Research on the State of Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Capability in the United States

Abstract

The prominence of economic and interpersonal cybercrime incidents over the last two decades has led to calls for law enforcement to learn and implement best practices for cybercrime response and investigations. While many federal agencies now play a role in the investigation of cybercrime, there is inconsistency in the capacities of local police agencies to address these issues. The current study describes the process of developing a training curriculum on cybercrime and cyber investigations for law enforcement personnel through a needs assessment and pilot test. The training utilizes two methods, integrating instructor-led sessions and scenario-based training to enhance learning and application. The pilot test utilizes a pre/post-test design to assess transfer of learning among participants and evaluate the effectiveness of both instructor-led and scenario-based trainings. Insights from the pilot informed refinements ensuring the training is optimally tailored to meet the needs of practitioners. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of effective training methodologies in the evolving field of cyber investigations.

Authors

• Julie Krupa, Michigan State University

• Thomas Holt, Michigan State University

• Taylor Fisher, Michigan State University

• Rachel L. McNealey, Michigan State University

• Karen Holt, Michigan State University