What is criminal computer forensics?

Criminal computer forensics is the systematic acquisition, preservation, analysis and reporting of digital evidence from computers and electronic devices for use in criminal proceedings. This includes forensic imaging of storage media, recovery of deleted data, analysis of user activity and preparation of expert reports that meet the evidentiary standards required by the Criminal Code of Canada and the Canada Evidence Act.

Can digital evidence be used in Canadian criminal court?

Yes. Digital evidence is admissible in Canadian criminal courts when it is collected using forensically sound methodology, chain of custody is maintained and the evidence can be authenticated. The Canada Evidence Act and case law such as R. v. Oland establish the framework for admissibility. Sherlock Forensics follows these standards in every engagement.

What types of criminal cases require computer forensics?

Computer forensics is used in fraud, cybercrime, child exploitation, drug trafficking, homicide, harassment, intellectual property theft and any case where digital devices may contain relevant evidence. We work with defence counsel, Crown prosecutors and law enforcement agencies across British Columbia.

Does Sherlock Forensics provide expert witness testimony?

Yes. Our CISSP-certified examiners have been qualified as expert witnesses in BC Provincial Court, BC Supreme Court and Federal Court. We provide clear, jargon-free testimony that explains complex forensic findings to judges and juries.

How quickly can criminal forensic analysis begin?

We can begin forensic imaging within 24 hours of engagement for urgent matters. Standard turnaround for a complete forensic examination is 2-4 weeks depending on the volume of data and complexity of the analysis required. We accommodate court-imposed deadlines and provide interim findings when needed.

Criminal Forensics

Criminal Computer Forensics

Digital evidence that withstands cross-examination.

Criminal computer forensics is the forensic acquisition, preservation and analysis of digital evidence from computers and electronic devices for use in criminal proceedings. Sherlock Forensics provides court-admissible forensic imaging, deleted data recovery and expert witness testimony for criminal cases across British Columbia, with over 20 years of casework experience.

In criminal proceedings, the integrity of digital evidence determines whether it survives a Charter challenge. Our examiners apply forensically sound methodology from acquisition through testimony, producing evidence that Crown prosecutors and defence counsel can rely on.

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Capabilities

Criminal Forensic Services

01 - Imaging

Forensic Imaging

Bit-for-bit forensic images of hard drives, SSDs, USB media and optical discs using write-blocked hardware. E01 and AFF4 formats with SHA-256 verification.

02 - Recovery

Deleted Data Recovery

Recovery of deleted files, browser history, chat logs and application data using file carving, journal analysis and unallocated space examination.

03 - Timeline

Timeline Reconstruction

Correlation of file system timestamps, event logs, registry entries and application artifacts to construct a forensic timeline of user activity.

04 - Network

Network Artifact Analysis

Examination of browser caches, DNS records, connection logs and VPN artifacts to establish online activity and communication patterns.

05 - Memory

Volatile Memory Analysis

Acquisition and analysis of RAM to recover encryption keys, running processes, network connections and artifacts that do not persist to disk.

06 - Testimony

Expert Witness Testimony

Qualified expert testimony in Provincial Court, Supreme Court and Federal Court. Clear, methodical presentation of forensic findings for judges and juries.

Evidence Types

Digital Evidence in Criminal Proceedings

Case Type	Common Evidence	Forensic Technique
Fraud / Financial Crime	Documents, email, financial records	Keyword search, metadata analysis
Cybercrime	Malware, logs, network traffic	Memory forensics, log correlation
Harassment / Threats	Messages, social media, email headers	App extraction, attribution analysis
Drug Trafficking	Encrypted communications, GPS data	Mobile forensics, geolocation mapping
Intellectual Property Theft	File access logs, USB history, cloud sync	Timeline reconstruction, exfiltration analysis

Frequently Asked Questions

Criminal Forensics FAQs

What is criminal computer forensics?: Criminal computer forensics is the systematic acquisition, preservation, analysis and reporting of digital evidence from computers and electronic devices for use in criminal proceedings. This includes forensic imaging, recovery of deleted data, analysis of user activity and preparation of expert reports that meet the evidentiary standards required by the Criminal Code of Canada and the Canada Evidence Act.
Can digital evidence be used in Canadian criminal court?: Yes. Digital evidence is admissible in Canadian criminal courts when it is collected using forensically sound methodology, chain of custody is maintained and the evidence can be authenticated. The Canada Evidence Act and case law establish the framework for admissibility. Sherlock Forensics follows these standards in every engagement.
What types of criminal cases require computer forensics?: Computer forensics is used in fraud, cybercrime, child exploitation, drug trafficking, homicide, harassment, intellectual property theft and any case where digital devices may contain relevant evidence. We work with defence counsel, Crown prosecutors and law enforcement agencies across British Columbia.
Does Sherlock Forensics provide expert witness testimony?: Yes. Our CISSP-certified examiners have been qualified as expert witnesses in BC Provincial Court, BC Supreme Court and Federal Court. We provide clear, jargon-free testimony that explains complex forensic findings to judges and juries.
How quickly can criminal forensic analysis begin?: We can begin forensic imaging within 24 hours of engagement for urgent matters. Standard turnaround for a complete forensic examination is 2-4 weeks depending on the volume of data and complexity of the analysis. We accommodate court-imposed deadlines and provide interim findings when needed.

Authority Resources

Standards & References

Legal Framework

Canadian criminal digital evidence is governed by established legal standards.

Related Services

Criminal forensics frequently overlaps with these capabilities.

Certifications

Court-recognized credentials held by our forensic examiners.

CISSP

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Engage a Criminal Forensic Examiner

Whether you represent the defence, the Crown or law enforcement, our examiners deliver impartial, methodical forensic analysis that holds up under scrutiny.

Call 604.229.1994

Phone: 604.229.1994
Burnaby Office: Burnaby, BC, Canada
Coquitlam Office: Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Urgent Matters: 24-hour forensic imaging available