Southern Miss Opens Rural Digital Forensics Lab to Support Law Enforcement

The University of Southern Mississippi is expanding access to dig- ital forensic resources and training through the opening of the Rural Digital Forensics Initiative (RDFI) labora- tory within the School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science and Security. Supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, the RDFI includes a digital con- tent production studio and working laboratory used to create training materials and support rural law enforcement agencies in Mississippi and beyond.

Rural law enforcement agencies often face unique chal- lenges when it comes to accessing forensic sup- port and training. The RDFI helps bridge those gaps by providing resources and educa- tional opportunities that can help improve inves- tigative efficiency and better support agencies in rural communities. The RDFI labora- tory is one of only three digital forensics labora- tories of its kind in Mississippi and is equipped to assist law enforcement agencies with a wide range of dig- ital evidence, including smartphones, tablets, computers and external storage media.

"The Rural Digital Forensics Initiative uniquely places Southern Miss at the forefront of the inter- section of academia and public safety by provid- ing a state-of-the-art digital forensics labora- tory," said Kristi Johnson, laboratory lead of the RDFI. When agencies request assistance from the RDFI, the lab works directly with the submit- ting investigator to docu- ment and receive evi- dence, perform forensic acquisition and process- ing, and provide extract- ed data and forensic reports. In addition to laboratory services, the initiative is expanding digital forensics educa- tion through Virtual Academy, an online learning platform designed to provide on- demand training for law enforcement agencies.

The platform allows offi- cers and investigators to complete continuing education opportunities more conveniently while reducing the need for travel and time away from their departments. "The RDFI is primed to strengthen investigations in the Pine Belt while also helping grow digital forensic capabilities through collaboration and training," said John Tryner, laboratory man- ager of the RDFI. "We have an opportunity to support agencies that may not have the per- sonnel, equipment or funding to process digi- tal evidence." Southern Miss students are gaining hands-on experience through the initiative.

Undergraduate and graduate students cur- rently assist with train- ing video development and laboratory opera- tions, helping prepare them for careers con- nected to public safety and criminal investiga- tions. The RDFI is also working with state law enforcement training divisions to ensure edu- cational content can be utilized for continuing education requirements. Learn more about the Rural Digital Forensics Initiative and the School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science and Security at Southern Miss.