Does the Secret Service Need a Division that Distributes Cyber Crime Info to States and Cities? (H.R. 1616)

What is H.R. 1616?

(Updated April 10, 2018)

This bill was enacted on November 2, 2017

This bill would establish a National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) to be operated by the U.S. Secret Service to disseminate information related to homeland security investigations of cyber and electronic crime. It would operate within the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS).

The NCFI would distribute information related to threats or acts of terrorism, while also educating and training law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges at the state and local levels of government.

Specifically, the NCFI:

• Must provide education and training on investigation methods, computer and mobile device forensic exams, network intrusion incidents, and methods to obtain, process, store, and admit digital evidence in court;

• Must ensure that timely, actionable, and relevant expertise and homeland security information related to cyber and electronic crime is shared with such officers, prosecutors, and judges;

• May provide officers, prosecutors, and judges with computer equipment and tools or such investigations and examinations.

The Secret Service’s network of Electronic Crime Task Forces is to be expanded through the addition of task force officers, prosecutors, and judges who’ve been educated and trained through the Institute. Stakeholders from the academic institutions and the private sector would also be included in this network.

Argument in favor

Law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges need current information about cyber crime. DHS and the Secret Service should provide them with whatever insights they can.

Argument opposed

There’s no need for law enforcement, prosecutors and judges to have one entity they can rely on for information about cyber crime, as other resources are available.

Impact

Law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges; DHS, the Secret Service, and the NCFI.

Cost of H.R. 1616

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) also introduced this legislation during the last session of Congress to counteract the constantly evolving threat of cyber crime, saying at the time: 

“The threats facing state and local law enforcement are ever changing. Cyber criminals use technology to commit crimes of almost any type. Our men and women in law enforcement are working in an extremely challenging environment, and it is imperative that we equip them to address these challenges in an effort to protect the most vulnerable from being exploited.”

This legislation has the support of nine cosponsors in the House, including eight Republicans and one Democrat. During the last session of Congress it passed the House by voice vote but wasn't considered by the Senate.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) Press Release (Previous Version)
• House Judiciary Committee Press Release (Previous Version)
• CBO Cost Estimate (Previous Version)
• The Hill (Previous Version)

Summary by Eric Revell
(Photo Credit: Flickr user NEC Corporation of America)