Keeping Up with Cybercriminals: House Passes Bill to Formally Establish National Computer Forensics Institute

On Monday November 30, the House demonstrated its resolve to fight high-tech crime such as trade secret theft by passing the Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act (H.R. 3490). The Act formally establishes the National Computer Forensics Institute, which is located in Hoover, Alabama and has been operating since 2008. Under the Act, the Institute will:

• Educate law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges on (i) cyber and electronic crimes; (ii) methods for investigating such crimes, including forensically examining computers and mobile devices; and (iii) prosecutorial and judicial challenges related to such crimes and forensic examinations; and
• Train law enforcement officers to (i) investigate cyber and electronic crimes; (ii) forensically examine computers and mobile devices; and (iii) respond to network intrusions.

Though the bill does not provide any additional funding to the Institute, it at least symbolizes the House’s resolve to combat cybercrime. Upon his Committee passing the bill, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee explained that the bill will “cement [the Institute’s] position as our nation’s premier hi-tech cybercrime training facility, and will help law enforcement professionals nationwide in their efforts to combat cyber and computer crimes.”