Electronic Communication: A Critical Source

Text message to student from male teacher asking her to stop by his room after school Electronic communication is often the most revealing and accessible form of evidence. Additionally, you can build a case chronology around text messages to show what happened before, during, and after communication.

Start by asking:

Are there relevant text messages or emails?
Was the communication done on personal or school-issued devices? Be sure to secure the school devices and electronic communication as soon as possible in accordance with your policy.
Are there messages on Snapchat, Instagram, or X (formerly Twitter)? If you are able to see messages or posts, take a screenshot that captures the usernames and date/time.
Did witnesses see the messages? Even if you are not able to obtain text messages, you can take a statement from a witness about what they saw.
Did the investigator personally review the messages or screenshots? Similar to taking statements from witnesses, an investigator can document communication and may be asked to testify about the electronic messages they observed.

Be sure to document what was seen, who saw it, and when. Even if you are not able to authenticate electronic communication right away, you can take steps to start documenting information.

What Apps Have They Downloaded?

Ask what apps they have downloaded, whether they have recently deleted any messages, and if there are screenshots or backups of conversations. Be specific and document their responses—electronic communication is often central to these cases, and inconsistencies can be revealing.