U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

For Immediate Release

257 East 200 South, Suite 1200
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111

Contact:
SA Robert Wright
FBI - Salt Lake City
(801) 579-4735
robert.wright2@ic.fbi.gov

July 6, 2005

Intermountain West Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory
Opens for Business

On July 6, 2005, law enforcement agencies based in Utah, Idaho, and Montana will gain access to one of the most sophisticated digital forensic laboratories and training centers in the country. Named the Intermountain West Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (IWRCFL) by participating agencies, this one-stop, full service forensics laboratory is devoted entirely to the examination of digital evidence in support of local, state, and federal criminal investigations.

The IWRCFL is a partnership among law enforcement agencies based and operating in the Intermountain West. The FBI provides the majority of the funding, while each of the participating agencies supply the personnel to manage and operate the RCFL. The IWRCFL's participating agencies include the Salt Lake City Police Department; Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office; West Valley City Police Department; Sandy City Police Department; Ada County (Idaho) Sheriff's Office; Utah Department of Public Safety; Utah Attorney General's Office; the U.S. Attorney's Office (District of Utah), and the FBI.

Digital forensics is the application of science and engineering to the recovery of digital evidence. RCFL examiners apply their skill on a variety of digital devices such as computers, personal digital assistants, cell phones, and video cameras. Examiners are also capable of extracting deleted, encrypted or damaged file information that may serve as evidence in a criminal investigation. In addition to supporting criminal, terrorism, and intelligence investigations through forensic data analysis, the IWRCFL will train local law enforcement in the handling of sensitive electronic equipment, computer investigative techniques, and a basic understanding of digital forensics.

Timothy J. Fuhrman, Special Agent in Charge (SAC), FBI, Salt Lake City Field Office said, "The IWRCFL exemplifies both 21st Century technology and old-fashioned teamwork. From Amber Alerts to terrorism investigations, the IWRCFL can lend its expertise to support area law enforcement in any situation at a moment's notice." Stephen Chapman, Chief, Sandy City Police Department and a member of the IWRCFL's Executive Board echoed this claim by saying, "With the IWRCFL, regional law enforcement's digital forensics' capability will grow exponentially. By having this knowledge and technology at our fingertips, law enforcement may learn details about what happened not only after a crime occurred, but before as well. That's the real power of digital evidence. The IWRCFL will have a profound impact on the way we conduct investigations for years to come."

Members of the media are invited to attend a press conference at the facility located at the Gateway, 440 West 200 South, at 10:30 a.m. on July 6th, followed by a tour of the IWRCFL. For more information, visit the IWRCFL's website, www.iwrcfl.org., or call (801) 456-4800.