Forensic Computer Agent

State of North Carolina • Wake, NC

8d • $61,275 - $90,685

About The Position

The State Bureau of Investigation’s mission is to serve Sheriffs, Police Chiefs, and District Attorneys as well as State and Federal partners, by investigating crimes and providing technical assistance in order to increase public safety for the citizens of the state of North Carolina. The SBI does so by conducting criminal investigations of allegations in areas of jurisdiction including narcotics, arson, election laws, misuse of state property, environmental crimes, human trafficking, child sexual abuse in day care centers, and threats made against public officials. The SBI provides support to local agencies related to computer crime investigations, use of force investigations, deaths in custody, crime scenes, financial crimes, missing and endangered persons, public corruption, cold cases, K9, special response team, bomb squad, and air wing. The SBI serves as North Carolina's repository of information on criminal history records, fingerprint identification, expungements, sex offender registry, and concealed handgun permits. The SBI manages the North Carolina Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAAC), which is the fusion center for the state of North Carolina, as well as the Behavioral Threat Assessment Unit, which assesses and manages threats of mass violence. An SBI Criminal Specialist is a professional investigative position using the authority, jurisdiction and resources of the Bureau to assist local, state and federal law enforcement agencies and judicial officials and to exercise the statutory original jurisdiction of the Bureau. The Criminal Specialist will serve as a Forensic Computer Agent for the SBI and will investigate, analyze, and prepare for trial, complex and technical/computer related crimes and evidence. These crimes involve Internet crimes against children, violent crimes against people, threats made against public groups, financial crimes, and computer hacking. A significant percentage of the agent's time will be spent working cases involving child pornography and/or crimes against children. Investigations include crimes such as child pornography, using a computer to solicit a minor to commit unlawful sex acts, communicating threats using the Internet, and other digital crimes.

Requirements

• SBI Agents must:
• Be able to accurately evaluate the potential consequences of alternative courses of action and select the most appropriate option.
• Be able to make sound decisions promptly when presented with multiple alternatives.
• Be able to comprehend, retain, and accurately apply factual information related to applicable laws, statutes, and codes.
• Communicate clearly and effectively with individuals and groups, including via police radio and other electronic communication systems.
• Maintain a level of physical fitness sufficient to meet and sustain certification standards for law enforcement officers established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission.
• Maintain grooming standards that align with professional expectations and reflect commitment to a polished personal appearance and professional demeanor.
• Conduct oneself, both on and off duty, in a manner that would not impair the credibility of testimony in a court of law or diminish community respect for and confidence in the law enforcement agency.
• Respond on a 24-hour, 7 day per week basis.
• Work a 160-hour work period as a minimum per month.
• Serve a 24-month probationary period.
• Attend the SBI Special Agent Academy which is a 12-week program held at the Samarcand Training Academy located in Jackson Springs, NC (Moore County).
• Applicant must have graduated from the SBI Academy or the next available SBI Academy after hiring and meet any other applicable North Carolina state statutory standards for law enforcement officers.
• Bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution and five years of law enforcement experience that included having the power to arrest.
• -OR- Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

• Must be a U.S. citizen with NC Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) Certification.
• Experience conducting criminal investigations involving computers and other digital devices.
• Demonstrated knowledge of state and federal laws involving computers and computer related crimes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of a variety of computer software programs, operating systems, computer networks and/or programming languages.
• Knowledge of computer security and experience involving extracting evidence that may be stored, hidden or encrypted.
• Experience in Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force/digital investigations and/or computer forensic/mobile data extraction experience.

Responsibilities

• Conduct investigations primarily involving computers, digital devices, and digital communications.
• Review and analyze tips that relate to potential child exploitation and child solicitation and conduct follow-up processes on these tips to further investigations.
• Identify suspects and their location using information obtained from IP addresses or other Internet routing information associated with their Internet activities, as well as determining the jurisdiction in which the crime occurred.
• Assist local, state and federal law enforcement officers in seizing and forensically examining computer systems and digital devices.
• Analyze computers and mobile devices for the evidence of a crime.
• Make arrest, prepare comprehensive and detailed reports, including supporting documents such as email header information, connection logs, and computer audit trails, and link the various documents together in a cohesive package which a prosecutor can follow and present to a jury.
• Responsible for the analysis of digital evidence and is required to present and defend the results of said analysis as an expert witness in court.

Benefits

• This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with Benefits.
• If you have student loans, becoming a state employee includes eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Eligible state employees are entitled to comprehensive benefits, including a variety of leave options, professional development opportunities, insurance, and more.
• To learn more about the benefits of being a North Carolina state employee, visit the N.C. Office of State Human Resources' website.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees