Investigations & Prosecutions Guidelines

The Cybercrime Section, a team of professional prosecutors, investigators, auditors, analysts and paralegals, investigates and prosecutes high technology crimes in California. High technology crimes are those crimes in which technology is used as an instrumentality in committing or is the target of a crime. Examples include: computer intrusions, internet fraud, scams or white-collar crimes committed by means of electronic media, money laundering via cryptocurrency or electronic transfer, organized retail crimes involving significant digital evidence, cyberstalking, cyberextortion or cyberexploitation. Most Cybercrime cases also involve an additional factor such as: the case is multi-jurisdictional within California; the case is technologically complex; the case involves government agencies or personnel; the case is high profile; or the case involves significant theft or damages (generally meaning over $50,000).

Additionally, pursuant to the provisions of Penal Code section 13848, the Cybercrime Section:

• provides investigative and prosecutorial support to the five California regional high-tech task forces funded through the High Technology Theft Apprehension and Prosecution (HTTAP) Program Trust Fund;
• provides investigative, legal, and prosecutorial support for technology crime investigations to those rural counties that are not represented by an HTTAP-funded task force;
• provides coordination for out-of-state technology-crime investigation requests;
• provides support for technology crime investigations that are initiated by other state agencies;
• provides legal support for state-operated digital forensic laboratories; and
• develops and provides training for judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officers and the public on the importance of strong information-security practices and evolving technology-related crime issues.

If you determine during an investigation that your case potentially appears to fall within any of the guidelines noted above, please contact the Cybercrime Section of the Office of the California Attorney General to discuss whether the case might be appropriate for investigative assistance or prosecution by the Cybercrime Section.