Request Assistance

Any law enforcement agency with jurisdiction in Colorado and Wyoming may request assistance (at no cost to them) with the following activities—

  • Pre-Seizure Consultation
    Law enforcement personnel may contact the Rocky Mountain RCFL for assistance with preparing a search warrant (only as it applies to digital evidence) by advising on related language that may be included in the affidavit.
  • Training
    The Rocky Mountain RCFL offers free training to law enforcement personnel residing in our service area. Visit the training room for more information.
  • On-Site Seizure and Collection
    Requests for this type of assistance should be made a minimum of 48 hours in advance (the more lead time the better) by submitting a completed Field Service Request Form to the Rocky Mountain RCFL. On occasion, an agency will uncover digital evidence that they are unprepared to manage. Under these circumstances, the advance notice requirement is waived. Once the RCFL evaluates the search request, the Operations Manager assigns it to an Examiner for action.
  • Duplication, Storage and Preservation of Electronic Equipment and other Digital Evidence
    Examinations are typically conducted on copies of the original evidence. Therefore, RCFL Examiners, can either duplicate (or copy the information) the media on-site, or they will bring the electronic equipment to the laboratory where they will duplicate the media and perform the examination.
  • Prompt, Accurate, and Impartial Examinations of Digitally Stored Media
    RCFL Examiners will conduct a thorough and objective examination of an electronic device to locate digital evidence and turn it into something that the investigator can review. It is not the Examiner’s responsibility to analyze the data for its meaning or significance to the investigation. This impartiality and objectivity lends credibility to both their findings and subsequent court testimony.
  • Courtroom Testimony
    As records are recovered from seized electronic equipment, the prosecutor is likely to direct the Examiner to introduce the digital evidence into court. As an expert witness, the Examiner explains under oath, how they conducted the forensics examination and what they discovered as a result.

Download our Examination Best Practices FAQ Sheet.

Requesting Services

When requesting assistance, the law enforcement agency should first complete and submit a Field Service Request Form

Field Service Request Form —

Requests for on-site assistance are accepted on a case-by-case basis from any law enforcement agency in the Rocky Mountain RCFL's service area. The Rocky Mountain RCFL prioritizes each request based on the exigency and/or nature of the crime. For non-exigent requests, priority will be given to those agencies participating on the task force.

Training Requests—

Any law enforcement agency in the Rocky Mountain RCFL's service area may request training.

Shipping Digital Evidence

When shipping evidence to the laboratory, please contact the RCFL for specific instructions regarding submittal procedures. For most examinations, submit only the central processing units and the internal and external storage media, and remember to:

  • Use a sturdy container when shipping computer components - If possible, use the original packing case with the fitted padding. Use large, plastic bubble wrap or foam rubber pads as packing and never use styrofoam because it lodges inside electronic equipment and creates static charges that can cause data loss or damage to circuit boards. Seal the container with a strong packing tape.
  • Pack and ship central processing units in the upright position - Label the outside container THIS END UP.
  • Secure loose media - Such as disks, cartridges, tapes, hard drives, etc., to avoid movement during shipping.

Tips for Law Enforcement

  • When Submitting a Service Request Form - The case agent or officer should be as concise and thorough as possible. These forms are used to make decisions about the request, therefore, any vague or ambiguous terminology may make it more difficult to interpret or understand what services are needed. As a result, delays in processing the request may occur.
  • Turning On or Accessing a Computer - Indicate on the Service Request Form if you or anyone else in the chain of custody attempted to turn on or access the computer prior to submittal. This is very important information for the Examiners to have.
  • Search Warrants – If a field service request is pursuant to a search warrant, include a copy of the warrant with the Field Service Request form. Likewise, if the service request is a result of a consensual search, a copy of the agency's “consent for search” form must be included. Failure to include this documentation may cause a delay in processing the request.
  • Handling Sensitive Equipment – Always use extreme caution or take precautionary measures such as grounding the static electricity before touching any of the internal components of the computer or handling sensitive electronic equipment. For example, if the internal workings of a computer are exposed, the equipment could be damaged by a buildup of static electricity that is held by the human body. (Walking across a rug can produce a static electricity voltage of up to 12,000 volts.) The hard drive is especially susceptible to static electricity, even if it is exposed to a small amount of voltage, while a microchip can be damaged with as little as 500 volts of static electricity. If you’re unsure about how to handle the equipment--defer to a professional.