Exploring digital evidence recognition among front-line law enforcement officers at fatal crash scenes

Digital forensic evidence has become an essential component of criminal investigations across the United States. The amplified integration of technology with society, however, continues to present new chal-lenges for law enforcement officers. This issue is evident in one of the key responsibilities of police agencies involves the enforcement of traffic laws and regulations on surface streets and highways. It is unclear how well first responders recognize the need to seize digital evidence associated with fatal vehicles accidents in the field. This study addressed this gap in the literature by examining a comparative population of respondents from the state police agencies in a large Midwestern and large Southern state. Using a vignette design, the findings demonstrated that respondents recognized the need to recover mobile devices and telematics from the vehicles involved in fatal crashes. A substantive number of of-ficers remained unsure of the potential digital evidentiary value of other objects on-scene (e.g., fast food, makeup). Further, regional differences were observed in respondents' responses. The implications for our understanding of police capacity and training needs were explored in detail. (c) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.