Digital Evidence Toolbox
Free Working Resources for Digital-Evidence Readiness
The Digital Evidence Toolbox gives defense attorneys and investigators a practical place to start when digital evidence may affect a case.
It is the case-level resource of the National Digital Evidence Readiness Framework for Public Defense, bringing case-assessment tools, provider information, technical guidance, standards, preservation resources, and discovery materials together in one place.
No prior technical knowledge, specialized equipment, or office-wide program is required to begin.
Practical Resources for Case Assessment
The Toolbox gives defense attorneys and investigators resources to:
- Identify digital evidence that may matter
- Recognize time-sensitive evidence before it is lost
- Determine what law enforcement collected and what may be missing
- Understand underlying records and technical issues
- Preserve and obtain additional evidence
- Know when qualified forensic assistance is needed
The goal is better case assessment and better-informed decisions about what to do next.
Review the National Digital Evidence Readiness Framework
What You Will Find in the Toolbox
The Toolbox brings practical digital-evidence resources together so defense professionals do not have to know every technical answer before they know where to begin.
Case Assessment and Time-Sensitive Evidence
- Case-assessment checklists and working resources
- Time-sensitive digital-evidence guidance
- Missing-evidence considerations
- Resources for determining what requires early attention
Digital-Forensic Disciplines
Guidance and resources covering:
- Mobile-device forensics
- Computer forensics
- Data recovery
- Audio and video evidence
- Call-detail records and cell-site evidence
- GPS and location evidence
- Social media and online evidence
Standards and Technical Guidance
Recognized guidance, including Scientific Working Group on Digital Evidence (SWGDE) resources, digital-forensic standards and best practices, evidence handling, documentation, quality practices, and technical guidance for evaluating forensic work.
Preservation, Providers, and Discovery
Provider information, retention guidance, preservation resources, request language, discovery materials, and guidance for obtaining underlying records and supporting forensic material.
Post-Conviction Review
Resources for assessing older convictions where digital evidence may warrant renewed technical review.
Who May Use the Toolbox?
Free Toolbox access is intended for eligible defense professionals, including:
- Public defender attorneys and investigators
- Appellate and post-conviction personnel
- Public defender leadership, trainers, and litigation-support staff
- Assigned-counsel and institutional indigent-defense professionals
Some resources are publicly available. Defense-specific materials may require registration and professional verification.
Built from criminal-defense casework and public-defense implementation, the Toolbox is designed for use while actual cases are being investigated and litigated.
Fundamentals before forensics.
Bring the Framework to Your Office
The Toolbox gives individual defense professionals a case-level starting point.
Public defender agencies that want a shared office-level implementation pathway can become DERU partners.
DERU adds office-level implementation support built around resources such as the Digital Evidence Case Assessment Checklist and Time-Sensitive Digital Evidence Guide, along with post-conviction materials, training, and participation in the Digital Innocence Coalition.
An office can begin with its existing attorneys, investigators, and resources. DERU does not require a new forensic laboratory, specialized department, or full-time examiner.