Boulder County Digital Forensics Lab Honored with National Award
The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Office, alongside partner law enforcement agencies, have received a national Association of Counties (NACo) award recognizing their collaborative work through the Digital Forensics Lab. The lab,originally established in 2007 with two examiners from different agencies,has grown into a vital resource for criminal investigations in the region.
Reformed under a task force model, the lab is now overseen by a Boulder County Sheriff’s Office sergeant and staffed by a team of nine detectives from various agencies. This structure aims to standardize forensic work and streamline the evidence request process. The lab’s primary function is to process digital evidence – ranging from computers and cell phones to car media systems – to extract details crucial for building criminal cases and providing expert testimony in court.
Beyond standard case support, the Digital Forensics Lab plays a critical role in combating online exploitation. They actively review and investigate cyber-tips from the Internet Crimes against Children (ICAC) Task Force and conduct proactive investigations into individuals involved in trafficking child sexually exploitative material.
The lab’s impact is demonstrably growing. device processing numbers have steadily increased in recent years: 527 devices in 2020, 465 in 2021, 594 in 2022, 992 in 2023, and 762 in 2024. Correspondingly, the number of cases opened has also risen, from 267 in 2020 to 295 in 2024. In 2024, cases primarily involved Crimes Against Children, Death investigations, Human Trafficking/Sexual Assault, and Miscellaneous Persons Crimes. Specifically, the lab investigated 74 ICAC tips in 2024, leading to 15 search warrants, 5 arrests, and 3 pending arrest warrants as of year-end.
This dedication was previously recognized locally with the Sheriff’s Office distinguished Unit Award for 2024. District Attorney Michael Dougherty highlighted the lab’s unique position as one of the few jurisdictions with its own dedicated forensic lab, considerably improving public safety and case processing times. He also emphasized the collaborative nature of the team, comprised of detectives from multiple Boulder County agencies. sheriff Curtis Johnson echoed this sentiment, praising the strong inter-agency collaboration demonstrated by the lab’s efforts.
