The Champlain College Center for Digital Investigation (C3DI) is currently focusing on a number of projects within the scope of supporting local, regional, and federal law enforcement in endeavors related to computer forensics and digital investigations.

The first project aims to increase the computer forensics examination capacity for law enforcement in Vermont. Law enforcement agencies throughout Vermont regularly seize computers (including desktops, laptops, servers, network devices) and mobile devices (including cameras, PDAs, and cell phones) at crime scenes. The greater Chittenden County area is home to the largest concentrated population in the state. The Burlington-Waterbury corridor also represents the major hub of computer forensics activity — both examinations and in-state training and education — in Vermont. In addition, a wealth of federal agencies, ranging from the U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Bureau of Investigation to the U.S. Secret Service and Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are located in northwest Vermont. The C3DI will fund a full-time computer forensics examiner to support local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in Vermont, and be available for mutual aid requests in up-state New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and southern Quebec.

The second primary project relates to training. Working with several partner training organizations, the C3DI will support efforts to deliver cybercrime and other law enforcement-related training in an online, instructor-led format. Online training and education have a proven track record but are not yet widely employed by the law enforcement training community. The C3DI will assist partner agencies in piloting such courses.

A third project is to directly offer industry certification training. The C3DI and Champlain College Center for Workforce Development are partnering with the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium [(ISC)²] and International Society of Forensic Computer Examiners (ISFCE) to offer certification training related to computer forensics, digital investigations, and information security. Follow the Training Opportunities link for additional information about courses and dates.

C3DI projects also support Champlain College's Computer & Digital Forensics (C&DF) undergraduate degree and certificate programs. The C3DI funds a full-time adjunct faculty member for the C&DF program, as well as new undergraduate research initiatives.