Modern policing often begins and ends with digital evidence—and that evidence is coming from more places than ever. Smartphones, laptops, computers, vehicle infotainment systems, and cloud accounts, as well as devices in homes and businesses, have become critical sources of evidence and have become essential to digital forensic investigations. By some estimates, more than 90 percent of reported crime now has a digital element.¹ The FBI’s 2023 Internet Crime Report indicates that reports of digital theft and similar crimes nearly doubled from 2019 to 2023, with the total losses skyrocketing from $3.5 billion to $12.5 billion.²

But even as the volume of digital evidence is expanding, many police departments are still relying on fragmented and outdated systems to manage it. Investigators lose valuable hours waiting for lab updates. Forensic examiners often work in isolation, unaware of new leads being developed in the case. Supervisors struggle to see the bigger picture without separate check-ins with the investigative team.

The question isn’t whether digital tools are important. It’s a question of whether the tools the agency uses are helping investigations move faster and work smarter—or holding teams back.

For police leaders, this isn’t just a technology problem—it’s a time problem. The question isn’t whether digital tools are important. It’s a question of whether the tools the agency uses are helping investigations move faster and work smarter—or holding teams back.

Forward-thinking agencies are tackling these challenges head-on with a new kind of digital investigation platform—and learning firsthand what the right approach can mean for leadership, accountability, and results.

Building Cross-Team Collaboration

One of the biggest hurdles in any complex investigation is coordination. Investigators, examiners, legal advisors, and leadership often work in different systems, on different timelines, and with different priorities. This fragmentation creates gaps; delays; and sometimes, critical missed connections.

A modern digital platform changes that. By providing a single, secure environment for all stakeholders to work within, departments can finally achieve the kind of alignment that real-time policing demands.

Imagine an investigator on the street uploading evidence directly from a mobile device while a forensic examiner at the lab begins processing it immediately. Legal advisors can flag admissibility issues as soon as data are reviewed, and supervisors can see every update unfold live, without having to request a report or schedule a meeting.

This type of connectivity isn’t just convenient—it’s transformative. It means fewer errors, faster decisions, and more confidence in the process at every level.

Streamlining Workflows Means Faster Investigations

Workflow bottlenecks are frustrating because they can stall a case or compromise evidence integrity. From collecting devices to triaging files, analyzing data, and compiling reports, the steps in a digital investigation are many—and often repetitive.

A modern, mobile-ready platform substantially reduces these burdens. Tasks like acquiring a device, scanning for known keywords, or generating a summary report can be initiated automatically as part of a defined workflow. That means less manual handling, fewer potential mistakes, and more consistent output.

For police leaders, this translates to more predictable timelines, better resource allocation, and increased case throughput. It also means forensic professionals spend more time doing high-value work and less time on routine steps that can (and should) be handled by the system. And because these tools are accessible via mobile devices, a team can stay connected to cases whether they’re at a workstation, in the field, or in the courtroom.

Centralizing Evidence Storage with Speed and Integrity

Digital evidence is no longer confined to a few devices—it’s everywhere. And with so many sources, formats, and tools, managing that evidence securely and efficiently is more important than ever.

Many departments still store digital evidence across a mix of hard drives, servers, and cloud environments. This makes it difficult to track chain of custody, slows down access, and complicates case reviews.

A centralized evidence platform solves these problems by providing one secure location where all evidence can be stored, organized, and accessed—regardless of device type or source. Whether it’s a mobile chat log, a security cam video, or data from a cloud account, everything is preserved with full audit trails and made searchable for the team.

For police leaders, this means easier oversight, improved evidence integrity, and more confidence that critical information won’t fall through the cracks or out of compliance.

Find Solutions That Work for You

Every agency has its own mix of software and systems. What works for one department might not fit another. That’s why flexibility is critical when evaluating any major technology investment. The best platform will have the ability to integrate an agency’s existing systems, rather than requiring their replacement—whether the agency needs to connect its digital evidence platform, case management system, or courtroom software.

This kind of flexibility ensures the technology investment grows with the agency. As digital threats evolve and new tools come online, the platform should evolve too—without forcing police agencies to start over or get locked into a system with features they don’t want or need.

Practical Advantages for Police Leadership

For police leadership, the benefits of modernizing the digital investigations workflow are both operational and strategic:

• • Clarity across every case and department
  • Faster time-to-resolution, even in high-volume environments
  • Reduced burnout for staff stuck in inefficient processes
  • Stronger community trust through transparent investigations
  • More informed decision-making with real-time data at your fingertips

At the end of the day, today’s criminal activity moves quickly through digital channels. A department’s ability to respond needs to be just as fast, just as agile, and far more connected.

One Platform, Built for Modern Policing

For agencies ready to unify their digital forensics capabilities under a single, mobile-ready platform, Magnet One offers a proven path forward. Designed with input from investigators, forensic examiners, and law enforcement leadership, Magnet One brings together real-time collaboration, automated workflows, centralized storage, and open integrations, all in one place. Best of all, it’s free.

It’s not just a tech upgrade. It’s a way to reclaim time, clarity, and control—so a department can deliver better outcomes, with less friction, and greater confidence.

Notes:

¹National Police Chiefs Council, National Policing Digital Strategy: Digital, Data and Technology Strategy 2020–2030.

²Federal Bureau of Investigation, Internet Crime Report 2023.