CSI TECH: The Technology of Crime-Solving

November 13, 2019
6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

mHub
mHUB, West Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA

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Program Series:
Technology and Engineering

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With new true crime and crime-inspired shows flooding today’s media, it’s difficult to keep track of which technologies are actually real and which are figments of studio executives’ imaginations. Join C2ST, UChicago’s Crime Lab, the Chicago Police Department, and the FBI to learn about the real technology behind crime-solving efforts.

Sergeant Patrick Kinney and Matt Triano will discuss how Area Technology Centers (ATC) comprise an important part of the Chicago Police Department’s Strategic Plan to improve clearance rates. Video and digital evidence are increasingly important components of successfully clearing cases, especially in situations where witness cooperation is difficult due to fear of retaliation and lack of trust. Previously, the Chicago Police Department experienced difficulties in quickly retrieving and analyzing video evidence because the right equipment and technology were not available. The ATCs support the Bureau of Detectives by developing investigative leads through the use of technology which in turn frees up detectives to interview witnesses and pursue other leads.

James Coleman will discuss his work at the FBI’s Chicago Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory. With the proliferation of digital devices, today’s criminal investigations often rely on evidence stored on computers, smartphones, and other connected tools. Performing digital forensic examinations on that evidence is the specialty of the Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (RCFL) program. Created in 2000, the RCFL program is a partnership between the FBI and other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies operating a regional, digital forensic task force. The laboratories provide forensic services and expertise to support law enforcement agencies in collecting and examining digital evidence for a wide range of investigations, including child pornography, terrorism, violent crime, and fraud. As with all evidence gathering and analysis, it takes a trained and skilled hand to gather digital evidence correctly and legally while preserving the integrity of the data and files. RCFLs provide law enforcement access to digital forensics experts and also allow state and local personnel to train on cutting-edge evidence gathering techniques.

Event Details

This event will NOT be recorded or live-streamed, so get your tickets ASAP to attend this highly anticipated program!

Wednesday, November 13th, 2019, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, mHub, 965 W Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60642. This program is $5 to attend for Early Bird tickets bought before Monday, November 11th, and $10 for tickets purchased the week of the event.

Parking and Transportation

mHub has an on-site private, fenced-in parking lot. Paid and free street parking are also available on the streets surrounding mHub.

mHub is easily accessible by multiple bus lines and the CTA  Blue line Chicago stop. For detailed travel information visit www.transitchicago.com or call the Travel Information Center at 1-888-YOUR-CTA or 1-888-CTA-TTY1 (TTY).

Notice: As a guest of Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST), you agree to be photographed, videotaped, or filmed and grant C2ST permission to put the finished footage/photography to any uses that it may deem proper including marketing, advertising (print, radio, and television) and PR-related activities.

We are dedicated to providing a professional and inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age, or religion. Please be respectful of diversity in individuals and in cultures at our events.

Featured Guests

Sergeant Patrick Kinney

Sergeant Patrick Kinney oversees the newly created Area South Technology Center which assists the Bureau of Detectives in the clearance of violent crimes by developing investigative leads through the use of technology. He has over 14 years of law enforcement experience and most recently served as a Sergeant in the Bureau of Patrol, 6th District. Prior to being promoted to Sergeant he was an Area South detective assigned to a homicide team where he leveraged digital evidence to assist in the solving of violent crimes. During his time as a detective, he continually attempted to close technological gaps within the Bureau of Detectives by introducing new and innovative digital evidence collection methods. Sergeant Kinney was previously assigned as FBI Task Force Officer assigned to a Regional Intelligence squad which focused on intelligence sharing throughout the Midwest. He has a strong analytical background developed while working within the Crime Prevention and Information Center as a Fusion Center analyst. Sergeant Kinney has presented at numerous conferences hosted by law enforcement, military and private sector entities both with in the United States and overseas. Sergeant Kinney has a Master of Science in Homeland Security from Colorado Technical University and holds a Bachelor Business Management from Eastern Illinois University.

Matt Triano

Matt Triano is a data scientist from the University of Chicago’s Crime Lab who has been involved in the design and implementation of the Chicago Police Department’s Area Technology Center (or ATC) project. He was the civilian analyst in CPD’s pilot ATC, which was in Area South, where he developed proficiency with the new investigative tools, training strategies to ensure ATC members can effectively and correctly use these new tools, processes to manage the large number of requests for dozens of concurrent homicide and non-fatal shooting investigations, and troubleshooting techniques to resolve common tech issues. 4 months after ATC South opened, CPD leadership decided the ATC pilot was a success and initiated the process to open up ATCs in Area Central and Area North, and Matt has been instrumental in this roll out. Matt currently divides his time between all three ATCs. Matt has a B.S. in Physics from Purdue University and a M.S. in Computer Science from DePaul University.

James Coleman

James Coleman is the Federal Bureau of Investigation Supervisory Special Agent over the Chicago Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory program (RCFL). RCFL services include:

Pre-seizure consultation, search, and onsite seizure
Duplication, storage, and preservation of computers and other digital evidence
Prompt, accurate, and impartial forensic examinations of digitally stored media
Consultation on digital forensic matters
Courtroom testimony

Alexandra Franco, Moderator

Alexandra M. Franco is a lawyer and a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology’s IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law. Professor Franco’s research agenda focuses on science and technology law, specifically, exploring the legal, policy and ethical issues presented by break-through scientific and technological innovations.  Professor Franco’s research includes the use of data-mining techniques by private and public entities; the use of predictive algorithms by law enforcement agencies to forecast the occurrence of crime in cities across the U.S., and, most recently, the increased-use of biometric-enabled technologies (such as face, iris and fingerprint scans) in commercial and government-sponsored applications.