Digital Forensics Analyst/Investigator

Join the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), Crime Info Intel Analysis (CISA) division, in the role of Digital Forensics Analyst/Investigator. In this role, you will be responsible for all aspects related to digital cellular electronic device extractions and investigative analysis in support of criminal investigations.
 
The forensic analyst position provides complex case support through extracting digital data from digital cellular devices and performing investigative analytics on that data. The forensic analyst provides this digital data to law enforcement investigators and prosecutors. Responsibilities include utilizing specialized forensic hardware and software and information technologies to search, gather, secure, and analyze digital evidence to support criminal investigations.

• Receive and process electronic communication devices relative to criminal investigations from law enforcement officials following chain of custody procedures, rules of evidence, and standards of the electronic cellular device forensics community.
• Use specialized equipment and software to search, extract, and analyze data from a variety of electronic cellular devices.
• Review complaints/search warrants, assist with execution of search warrants regarding extracting digital evidence. 
• Gather, research, and analyze information and data developed from cellular device extractions to identify patterns, historical location data, reveal connections, perform link analysis, categorize media images/videos, and uncover further investigative leads. 
• Prepare and organize recovered information in a suitable format for the requestor; complete clear and concise reports to inform the requestor of the nature of the examinations performed and the findings/conclusions attained and prepare and organize case materials and court exhibits for potential court procedures and testimony.
• Act as liaison to all Hennepin County Sheriff's Office and neighboring law enforcement crime analysis details; respond to inquiries from law enforcement and other agencies. 
• Establish and maintain professional working relationships with staff from the HCSO, local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, and state and federal prosecutors, to facilitate open communications for the purposes of obtaining information to further investigations; and share ideas pertaining to digital cellular device forensics, analytical methods, tools, and techniques.

• One of the following:
  • Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, law enforcement, business/public administration, sociology, psychology, or a closely related field, and one year of investigation, law enforcement, or military investigator experience.
  • Associate's degree in one of the above fields, and three years of investigation, law enforcement or military investigator experience.
  • Five years of investigation, law enforcement or military investigator experience.
• A valid driver's license.

• Experience:
  • Analyzing and interpreting complex statistical data and creating graphic representations of data; specifically in an investigative or law enforcement setting. 
  • Collecting and interpreting data and information from a variety of sources and preparing reports using reporting tools. 
  • Military intelligence experience including counterdrug analyst experience.
  • Presenting data to groups in various settings.
  • Performing digital cellular device extractions in an investigative or law enforcement setting.
  • Working with federal, state, and local law enforcement databases.
  • Working with crime trend analysis.
  • With investigative techniques and rules of evidence related to criminal investigations. 
  • Testifying in court.
  • Using computers and software to evaluate; compare and identify and document evidence.
• Two or more years of full-time equivalent work experience as either a forensics technician or examiner within a digital evidence facility that supports criminal investigations and has an external accreditation or internal quality assurance framework.
• Ability to:
  • Collect, assemble, analyze, evaluate evidence, statistics, and other pertinent information to draw conclusions to effectively solve crimes. 
  • Attend formal courses to develop and maintain most current knowledge and skills in the digital cellular device forensics extraction process and the application of proper forensics extraction methods and techniques.
• Strong verbal communications skills. 
• Certifications as a Digital Cellular Device Forensic Examiner. 
• Knowledge of federal rules and organizational policies in defining, handling, and examining digital evidence.