Tips on testifying in a computer crimes case

Date: April 02, 2005
Source: COMPUTERWORLD


... a reputation in the field of expertise and then make known your interest in participating in the judicial process. There are a number of services that locate expert witnesses for attorneys, such as IMS ExpertServices and JurisProExpertWitnessDirectory.com Inc. ). You can register as an expert with these services for a fee.

Summary

More and more laws are being passed that pertain to computers and networks. As an IT professional, you may at some time in your career find yourself called upon to testify in court, either in relation to a criminal offense or civil action involving your own organization's computers or to give your expert opinion in a case in which you have no personal involvement.

The most important thing to remember, in both cases, is to be sure you know your stuff inside and out. The judicial process is an adversarial one, which means there are attorneys on both sides attempting to build their own case and tear down the opposition's case. As a witness, you are called by and seen as part of one side or the other, and you must be prepared for questions from the opposing side that will challenge your testimony and perhaps attempt to cast doubt about your honesty, integrity and expertise.

Your testimony as a victim or eye witness could be instrumental in bringing a computer criminal to justice or recovering damages for your organization. Your testimony as an expert witness could be the deciding factor in a criminal or civil trial and could also result in a lucrative career for you.

Debra LittleJohn Shinder (MCSE) is a technology consultant, trainer and writer who has written a number of books on networking, including Computer Networking Essentials, published by Cisco Press and Scene of the Cybercrime, published by Syngress Media. She is co-author, with her husband Dr. Thomas Shinder, of Troubleshooting Windows 2000 TCP/IPand Configuring ISA Server 2000 and ISA Server and Beyond. She edited Syngress's Security + Study Guide and was a major contributor to Que's TruSecure ICSA Certified Security Associate exam guide. Shinder lives in the Dallas-Forth Worth area and can be reached at [email protected] or via the Web site at www.shinder.net

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2006-01-07 10:15:44 - Just a correction to your comment about... Mike Wein

2005-04-04 02:11:45 - correction... scenarios Bobbie Osterman, MS

2005-04-04 02:10:39 - Excellent article and topic. Would love to... Bobbie Osterman, MS

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