Workshop Teaches Police How to Use Social Media for Investigations

Forty police officers from across Pennsylvania gathered at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania (ESU) during a summer workshop to learn how to use Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites to monitor criminal activity and collect evidence.

The two-day workshop was presented on July 24-25, 2012, by ESU computer science professors Dr. Paul Schembari, chair of the Computer Science Department and director of the Undergraduate Computer Security Program, and Dr. Michael Jochen, coordinator of the Graduate Information Security Program, both experts in computer security. The workshop was presented through the Cyber-crime and Computer Forensics Institute, a partnership between ESU, Rider and Drexel Universities, which is sponsored by the National Institute of Justice. Funding for the program was provided through a three-year, $500,000 grant received by ESU from the U.S. Department of Justice.

“This is the first time we offered the social media investigation training to law enforcement professionals at ESU,” said Dr. Schembari. “In the past, the workshop was held at the FBI Computer Forensics Lab in Philadelphia.” Schembari added, “We’ve received very good reviews from the attendees ­­‑‑ one person stated that it was the best computer training he had received.”

Officers from regional, state, and campus police forces, as well as U.S. probation officers and U.S.marshals attended the course. During the two-day event, they learned how to create their own social networking accounts and how to use those accounts to capture relevant information. Attention was focused on sites that remain widely popular in the quickly changing and evolving world of internet culture. The experience culminated in a simulated investigation case study during which the attendees practiced and refined their skills. 

 “The workshop includes several hands-on activities for participants that assist them in developing the skills they need to find evidence in social networking sites,” Schembari said.  “In the future, we plan to offer additional computer security workshops and trainings for law enforcement professionals and to expand our market to the corporate community.”

In addition to providing cyber-crime education to meet the needs of state and local law enforcement, the Cyber-crime and Computer Forensics Institute completes research projects in evidence gathering, detecting criminal activity, e-commerce security and identity theft.

For more information, contact Dr. Paul Schembari at (570) 422-3661 or nschembari@esu.edu.

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