Intelligence Tradecraft: Principles for Advanced Investigations

Paralegal Association of Florida, Inc. – Broward Chapter

The scope of modern investigations has grown rapidly over the past decade. Traditional social media and background checks, surveillance and interviews are no longer the only tools at a professional’s disposal, yet traditional investigative patterns persist. This session utilizes real world case examples to teach essential principles behind the methodology and technology of geosocial and geospatial investigations, device forensics, location tracking, video and imagery upscaling, international investigations, and complex surveillance operations. The session then describes how to leverage these capabilities to maximum effect in a legally robust manner. The audience will learn these advanced investigative solutions are far more accessible and affordable than they believe. Specifically, the session seeks to educate the attendee on the four main disciplines of private intelligence gathering: Open Source Intelligence, Geospatial Intelligence, Signals Intelligence and Human Intelligence. By utilizing a more diverse set of tools, the end-user can help their organization deliver a more compelling defense against high-value litigation and threats.

Session Agenda: Intelligence-Tradecraft-Principles-for-Advanced-Investigations.pdf

Learning Objectives:

1.) Understand the significance of the four disciplines of private intelligence and the difference between them.
2.) Learn the basic principles of Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) as well as the three pillars of OSINT:Identity Resolution, Geographic Resolution and Chronologic Resolution.
3.) Understand what Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) is and how to utilize it to uncover photos, videos, posts and witnesses tied to a specific time and location.
4.) Understand the principles of video and imagery upscaling and how it is used to enhance dashcam and other types of footage
5.) Understand what Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) is and how it commonly manifests in the private sector. Cellular forensics, cell site analysis, vehicle tracking and wireless network identification are examined.
6.) Learn the specific capabilities of a forensic examination of a mobile device and the scope of information which can be obtained, as well as how the investigation works from a logistical and legal standpoint.
7.) Understand what Human Intelligence (HUMINT) is and how both manned and unmanned surveillance operations function.
8.) Learn the most common mistakes made during surveillance operations from a tactical standpoint, and how modern technology and proper techniques reduce this risk.
9.) Discover the rationale behind utilizing more than one investigator on a surveillance case, the statistics supporting such cases and an in-depth look at common mistakes and limitations of “one-crew” surveillance so you can avoid these situations.
10.) What is needed to unmask the identity of anonymized individuals online who may be making threats towards you or your organization and common-sense steps to anonymize yourself online to avoid these potential threats.

CLE Hours = 1 Technology