Computer Forensics: Chain of Custody Concerns and the Role of Social Media in
Crime Investigation
In computer forensics, the chain of custody refers to “the chronological
documentation or paper trail that records the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis,
and disposition of physical or electronic evidence” (Yankson & Davis, 2019). It is used to
track the whereabouts of physical evidence from when it is collected to when it is presented
in court. It must be unbroken in order for the evidence to be considered admissible in court.
Digital evidence can be collected from various sources, including computers, cell phones, and
other electronic devices. In any case, where social media is involved, it is crucial to take a
proactive approach in order to collect the best possible evidence. This means being aware of
what platforms the relevant parties are using and regularly monitoring those platforms for any
new activity. Of course, simply collecting evidence is not enough – it must also be properly
organized and presented in a way that will be persuasive to a judge or jury.
In Richard Godbehere's case, police discovered evidence about a possible crime they
would not have known about otherwise because of a social media post. Prosecutors were
informed of the crime in the case of Jacob Cox Brown, but they had no suspects until Jacob
posted suspicious Facebook posts (Yankson & Davis, 2019). They found damage to his car
that supported the crime and were able to apprehend him as a result. Police were capable of
arresting for alleged rape in the case of Ma'lik Richmond and Trent Mays after a video
showed the two taking an unconscious female out of a residence and uploading nude pictures
of the girl online. These and several more examples were made public because persons
involved or present at the time uploaded images and videos to social media platforms, giving
authorities a starting point for an investigation.
Crime Investigation
In computer forensics, the chain of custody refers to “the chronological
documentation or paper trail that records the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis,
and disposition of physical or electronic evidence” (Yankson & Davis, 2019). It is used to
track the whereabouts of physical evidence from when it is collected to when it is presented
in court. It must be unbroken in order for the evidence to be considered admissible in court.
Digital evidence can be collected from various sources, including computers, cell phones, and
other electronic devices. In any case, where social media is involved, it is crucial to take a
proactive approach in order to collect the best possible evidence. This means being aware of
what platforms the relevant parties are using and regularly monitoring those platforms for any
new activity. Of course, simply collecting evidence is not enough – it must also be properly
organized and presented in a way that will be persuasive to a judge or jury.
In Richard Godbehere's case, police discovered evidence about a possible crime they
would not have known about otherwise because of a social media post. Prosecutors were
informed of the crime in the case of Jacob Cox Brown, but they had no suspects until Jacob
posted suspicious Facebook posts (Yankson & Davis, 2019). They found damage to his car
that supported the crime and were able to apprehend him as a result. Police were capable of
arresting for alleged rape in the case of Ma'lik Richmond and Trent Mays after a video
showed the two taking an unconscious female out of a residence and uploading nude pictures
of the girl online. These and several more examples were made public because persons
involved or present at the time uploaded images and videos to social media platforms, giving
authorities a starting point for an investigation.
