Hi,
would you guys say that law enforcement, i.e. the police are more willing to train a new forensics guy than companies? With a degree, I have found many jobs that require at least 1 years experience or EnCase certified etc
how does someone go about getting that experience if you need experience in the first place?
I would say yes, but I think the issue is a little different with police - at least here in Canada. Police typically have to train up to a certain standard before they are allowed to do digital forensics.
Here the basic competency required is successful completion of the computer forensic examiner course given at the Canadian Police College - as well as A+ certification (which is required to be admitted into the course). Typically investigators also get EnCase and FTK training as well as ongoing mentorship after this. This is pretty much the bare minimum.
Some forces such as the RCMP also require Network+ certification as well as successful completion of CPC courses on network forensics and internet evidence analysis. Other training tends to be is optional.
Basically because we have to train to a common standard, not training just isn't an option. So not only are we willing to train, we have to.
Way Down South here in the USA, the County Sheriff's Department that serves our state's largest city requires that you attend Police Academy and work for two years as a Uniformed Officer before you may even *apply* to work in their Computer Forensics division.
When last I checked (3 years ago), the "division" was comprised of one person. He said he'd like to have another examiner to help with his 6-month backlog of cases, but there was no money in the budget for additional personnel.
In today's much-worse economy, law enforcement agencies are looking to "reduce head-count" (Translation 'Please quit or retire. Please.'), which makes it even harder for anyone looking to be employed in this field.
Do UK law enforcement agencies hire CFEs directly, without police-training?
I would say so. I came from a computer background, I didn't have a degree in CF at all…I had no idea what encase was p
The Police Force I ended up working for have been great. They hired me for my computer knowledge and then gave me all the training that I needed, so I'm now an EnCE. I definately think you will get a higher standard of training in LE!
Just based on a few people I know in the industry LE seems to have provided better training opportunities. There are also some vgood LE only courses out there.
I believe another advantage of working LE is that they often have access to some tools that are not commercially available.
I see overworked is the common trend where LE is concerned. I am not in LE myself, but some of my friends are and they are also looking for manpower and training with no budgets.
I think it differs greatly between forces…but yes, I think we're all overworked whereas the private sector can't get enough work!
I know that the Logic in my Dept. is that we cannot afford to PAY CIVILIAN Forensic examiners what they could get in the open markt..so we throw them a bone by getting them training. Most of which is grant funded anyway.