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County renews High-Tech Crimes Unit agreement; prosecutor says local unit sharply reduced forensic turnaround times
Summary
Commissioners approved an extension of the county's contract with the IPAC-backed High-Tech Crimes Unit, which county prosecutors and detectives said has shortened device-forensics turnaround from many months to about 24 hours and supported local prosecutions.
Delaware County commissioners voted Sept. 2 to extend the county's agreement with the state-backed High-Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU), which is hosted locally and serves a multi-county region.
Doug Zimmer, HTCU director, and County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman described the unit's work to parse data from mobile phones and other devices in criminal investigations. Hoffman said that before the local HTCU, investigators waited months — sometimes a year — for state lab results. Having the HTCU on-site, Hoffman said, often allows local agencies to receive investigatory data within 24 hours, which he described as —consequential in getting people tried and convicted.— He cited growing case volume and the value of Ball State interns who help process data.
Zimmer confirmed the unit accepts cases from federal, state and local agencies and serves a service area established by IPAC; he said the HTCU grew from an initial service-base plan to cover 11 counties. Commissioners approved extension of the county's HTCU contract by roll call.
Commissioners noted the unit's role in speeding investigations and improving prosecutions in Delaware County. No dissenting votes were recorded.
