Two women sitting across a round table.

5 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Private Digital Crime Lab

Digital forensic services and private crime labs can help organizations process digital evidence effectively. While several digital crime labs are working in the USA, not all offer the same level of services. The forensics experts you choose must have the right expertise and knowledge to conduct an investigation thoroughly to bring the criminals to justice.

Reliable cyber forensics experts will evaluate and analyze digital evidence based on pre-determined criteria. Thus, ask your digital crime lab services the following questions to ensure their credibility and professionalism:

1. What are your qualifications?

Digital evidence can be rendered irrelevant in the court due to the lack of qualifications, knowledge, and experience of the candidate presenting them. Therefore, you should ask your forensics team about their qualifications, certifications, and work experience to make the most out of their services.

2. Does your lab maintain any accreditation?     

Third-party organizations offering accreditation to federal and state crime labs also provide their services to private digital crime labs. Maintaining accreditation ensures that the private forensics services follow standard procedures and policies, use the right tools, and train their team to handle projects professionally. Thus, ensure your crime lab maintains accreditation to validate your findings in court.

3. Can I review a sample of your findings report?

graphical illustration on paper.

A reputable private lab provides a detailed explanation and in-depth investigation of their findings in a report. Therefore, always ask your chosen digital forensics crime lab for a sample report to understand their reporting skills. The report should be easy to understand, concise, and clear for the judges and attorneys to understand. Don’t hesitate to ask them questions regarding the report findings!

4. How much will it cost?

Don’t be afraid to ask about the overall costs before hiring a crime lab services. Firms that give vague answers to this question must be considered a red flag. On the other hand, reliable services will give you a fixed estimate depending on the nature of the investigation and the time required for surveillance.

5. Do you have any specialty?

Many crime labs specialize in audio and video forensic services. Therefore, consult a private crime lab specializing in a specific forensic investigation for optimum results.

If you’re interested in getting help from a reliable video analysis expert, we can help! At Eclipse Forensics, our team takes pride in offering high-quality audio and video forensic services at affordable rates. Learn more about us here.

Posted in Blog, Forensics.