Ccjs 301 Project 2

Running head: PROJECT 2 – IDENTIFYING AND COLLECTING DIGITAL EVIDENCE

Project 2 – Identifying and Collecting Digital Evidence

CCJS 321 Digital Forensics

University of Maryland University College

July 18, 2015

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PROJECT 2 – IDENTIFYING AND COLLECTING DIGITAL EVIDENCE

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Project 2 – Identifying and Collecting Digital Evidence

1. What permissions/authorities should you have before you search Mr. Yourprop’s former

Company work area, and how would you document that authority?

Generally speaking, an employer can search an employee’s desk or work area without

expecting any legal repercussions. The desk is property of the employer, therefore the employee

should not be entitled to a reasonable expectation of privacy in their work area (Privacy at Work:

What Are Your Rights?, 2015). Even though this is generally the case, its best practice, by and

large, to have authorities such as this published in the company policy and employee handbook.

This gives the employer a stronger leg to stand on, legally speaking, and provides full disclosure

to the employees with regards to employee privacy (Searches at Work - Legal Issues to Consider,

n.d.).

In this situation specifically, the employer already has a few things in their favor

concerning permissions/authorities to search the work area in question. First of all, Mr. Yourprop

is a former employee. He no longer works for Makestuff Company, so it’s not even his work area

anymore. Also, during his exit interview Mr. Yourprop gave reasonable cause for the Company to

search his belongings due to nature of his suspicious statements. When you factor these thoughts

combined with Makestuff’s policy on searches, they would be fully prepared to defend

themselves if Mr. Yourprop tries to make claims of an invasion of privacy (Searches at Work Legal Issues to Consider, n.d.).

2. Look at the photo of Mr. Yourprop’s work area provided for Project 2 in the Week 5

Overview area. Identify three (3) potential...