National White Collar Crime Center Brings Critical Cybercrime Training to the Desktop.

Business Editors

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 9, 2000

State-of-the-art computer-based training courseware for

police executives debuts at International Association

of Chiefs of Police conference

The National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) today announced the upcoming release of two computer-based training courses.

The CD-ROMs offer interactive training on how to use the Internet as an investigative tool and a groundbreaking awareness guide to help enforcement managers, investigators, and the criminal justice system respond to the growing problem of computer crime.

"The courseware was created by the NW3C as the operational arm of the National Cybercrime Training Partnership in direct response to requests from state and local law enforcement agencies," said Richard Johnston, Director of the NW3C. "State and local police are experiencing a dramatic increase in computer-related crime and the public expects them to respond. To develop that capability, law enforcement needs training. The NW3C is dedicated to the continued development and deployment of economic and high-tech crime training opportunities. We believe this type of law enforcement training effort is key to understanding and managing the threats posed by cybercrime."

The first CD-ROM, entitled "The Internet as an Investigative Tool," offers information on the use of the Internet and the World Wide Web as investigative tools. It explains how computers and networks work and focuses law enforcement professionals on how to be aware of crimes perpetrated using the Internet and crimes against the infrastructure of the Internet.

"Computer Crimes on Your Doorstep," the second CD-ROM, was developed as a how-to toolkit to guide public officials towards an understanding of computer-related crime and its potentially devastating effect on all Americans. The courseware includes presentations geared to:

--Law enforcement managers -- helping them recognize the growing involvement of computers in all crime, covering new training needs on the location and handling of electronic evidence, and offering assistance in soliciting support from local legislators and funding authorities to address computer crime;

--Criminal justice professionals -- outlining Fourth Amendment issues raised by electronic evidence and situations that the new technology introduces to the courtroom;

--Community outreach -- assisting local police in educating the public to help reduce the potential for victimization.

The CD-ROMs and related training will be offered by the NW3C to state and local law enforcement agencies at no cost and will be available for first time preview and distribution at the 107th annual International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference in San Diego, Calif. November 11-15, 2000. Additional release information can be obtained on-site at the conference by visiting booths #825 and #827.

About the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C)

Funded by a grant from the U. S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, the NW3C is a non-profit organization that provides a national support network for enforcement agencies involved in the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of economic and high-tech crime. More information on the NW3C and its initiatives is available on-line at www.nw3c.org.

About the National Cybercrime Training Partnership (NCTP)

Developed by the U. S. Department of Justice, the NCTP provides guidance and assistance to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in an effort to ensure that the law enforcement community is properly trained to address electronic and high technology crime. More information on the NCTP and its initiatives is available on-line at www.nctp.org.