To: Board of Supervisors
From: David O. Livingston, Sheriff-Coroner
Report Title: Magnet Forensics, LLC
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Sheriff-Coroner, or designee, to execute a contract with Magnet Forensics, LLC, for the use of software in the Office of the Sheriff Investigation Division that processes digital forensic evidence of time sensitive criminal cases, in an amount not to exceed $54,390, for the period March 15, 2024 through March 14, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this request will result in a one-time payment of $54,390 and will be funded 100% by the General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
Magnet Forensics, LLC, a technology company, plays a crucial role in law enforcement operations. Their software suite enables detectives to conduct more comprehensive and detailed data extraction from mobile devices. Magnet Forensics software provides detectives at the Office of the Sheriff Investigations Division with a tool to access and extract encrypted or inaccessible data from mobile devices, which may have evidentiary value. It also provides a more efficient process and reduces the number of personnel hours required to complete a similar task. The ability to conduct data extraction in-house simplifies the chain of custody associated with the device. The increased efficiency helps the detectives gain real-time information associated with their cases.
The department is requesting approval of this retroactive license agreement due to the conversion of the agreement from a purchase order to a service contract. This agreement includes a limitation of liability and indemnification from the County to Magnet Forensics, LLC.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
A negative action by the Board may prevent detectives from accessing encrypted or inaccessible data stored within mobile devices. Without the Magnet Forensics software, the Investigations Division must request assistance from a limited number of outside agencies that have access to software capable of performing these tasks, which would impede efficiency and create a backlog of evidence being retained for processing.