National Journal's Technology Daily
GovExec.com
By Sarah Lai Stirland
September 13, 2004

Attorney General John Ashcroft said on Monday that the Justice Department soon will expand its capabilities for pursuing cyber crimes by broadening its forensic analysis capabilities.
The department has five regional centers for such analysis in the prosecution of cyber crimes and will increase the number to 13, he said. He did not provide further details.

"We recognize that proper forensic analysis of computer evidence is critical for the successful investigation and prosecution of crime," he said in a keynote address at a conference held by the High Technology Crime Investigation Association.

Ashcroft delivered a speech that outlined the growing importance and role of the prosecution of cyber crimes within Justice. In particular, he noted a greater emphasis on prosecuting computer hacking and crimes related to intellectual property.

"The cornerstone of the department's prosecutorial effort is the computer crime and intellectual property section ... a highly-trained team of three dozen expert prosecutors who specialize in coordinating all kinds of international computer crime and intellectual property offenses," he said.

Ashcroft noted that the number of computer hacking and intellectual property (CHIPS) units that FBI chief Robert Mueller established before Mueller became head of the FBI has been expanded to 13 units within Ashcroft's tenure as attorney general.

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