Can your Case Management System (CMS) deal with the growing complexities of digital investigation

Why you need to decide if your CMS can truly handle the full life cycle of investigation management

In a bid to maintain operational efficiency and effectiveness amidst reducing resources, many investigative agencies opt for a Case Management System (CMS). However, the inherent design of a CMS means that they’re often not as productive as the agency would have liked. To ensure all cases remain open and free from regulatory scrutiny, the 2022 Australian Government Investigations Standards (AGIS) requires that all entities must have an electronic investigation management system (EIMS) to record, collate and manage investigations.
Why is this? The problem is that while CMS tools have delivered improved cycle times for many simple structured investigations, they lack the automation needed for unstructured investigations. They’re great for managing cases, but for increased productivity, and to keep up with the rise of digital evidence, an EIMS is what’s needed.

Here are few reasons why:

  • Focus on investigations – EIMS are designed specifically to support the investigation process, while CMS are more general-purpose tools that can be used to manage a variety of cases. EIMS provide features that are specific to investigations, such as tracking evidence, managing witness interviews, and conducting forensic analysis
  • Enhanced collaboration – EIMS are designed to facilitate collaboration between investigators and other stakeholders involved in the investigation process. They provide tools for sharing information, assigning tasks, and tracking progress, which can help ensure that all parties are on the same page and working together effectively
  • Better data management – EIMS are better equipped to handle large volumes of data, including multimedia content such as photos and videos. They provide features for organising and analysing this data, which can be critical in complex investigations
  • Improved efficiency – EIMS can automate many of the manual tasks involved in the investigation process, such as data entry and report generation. This can help investigators save time and focus on more important tasks, such as analysis and decision-making
  • Compliance and security – EIMS are often designed to meet specific compliance requirements, such as those related to data privacy and security. They provide features for controlling access to sensitive information, ensuring that data is stored securely, and maintaining audit trails to track who has accessed the data and what they have done with it.

What it comes down to is that while CMS can be useful in managing a wide range of cases, an EIMS can provide a more specialised and efficient solution for managing complex investigations.

CMS vs EIMS – what’s best for your agency’s investigative activity management?

To help you gain a clearer understanding of the differences between EIMS and CMS, we’ve developed the Standard Case Management vs. Electronic Investigation Management systems guide. In it, we cover:

  • The case management mirage – although accountability, tracking and reporting of cases can be significantly increased through a CMS, the efficiency and effectiveness of investigations often remains unchanged. Why is that?
  • Understanding case management vs investigation management – the important difference between Transactional Work and Exploratory Work
  • Investigation management methodology – the area where innovation or strategies for improvement should be targeted

Collaborative EIMS provide a way to harness the advantages of automation in situations where people, information, and processes intersect. An effective EIMS will enhance workflow, boost investigator efficiency, and decrease investigation cycle times without imposing a transactional framework on the exploratory aspect of investigations, which is often seen in conventional CMS.

Get the full story – download the CMS vs EIMS guide today

 

 

John Kilburn

Head of Commercial and Business Strategy

As Head of Commercial and Business Strategy at Comtrac, John is responsible for developing Comtrac’s Partnerships within Public Justice, Government, Regulators and Law Enforcement in Australia and Internationally. He leads a dynamic team that advise heads of investigation, agency leaders, and transformation officers on strategies to revolutionise their digital investigative culture through rationalisation and adoption of new technology.

Following a 27-year career in Law Enforcement specialising in criminal investigations, security intelligence and counter-terrorism, a career change saw a move to commercial relationships, focusing on Digital Intelligence with agencies throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific Region.

With over 30 years of experience in security, public safety and intelligence industry, John is focused on long-term partnerships and guiding agencies that lead to agency growth and increased capability.

Anastasia Lihou

Head of Operations

Anastasia is a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in operations and customer experience roles across diverse industries. Currently serving as the Head of Operations at Comtrac, Anastasia plays a pivotal role in supporting CEO Craig Doran by spearheading the implementation of strategic programs while overseeing the Professional Services and Customer Experience teams.

Since joining Comtrac in 2022, Anastasia has demonstrated her leadership and strategic planning expertise, contributing significantly to the company’s growth and success. Her extensive background in operations management has equipped her with the skills necessary to drive operational excellence and enhance customer satisfaction. Anastasia’s passion for leadership and talent development is evident through her active involvement in mentorship programs aimed at nurturing emerging professionals. Moreover, her expertise extends beyond the realm of operations, as she is also a trained graphic designer and art director. 

With a keen business acumen and a knack for innovative thinking, Anastasia continues to make strides in her career, leveraging her diverse skill set to achieve organizational objectives and foster a culture of excellence at Comtrac. She remains committed to driving sustainable growth and delivering exceptional value to both internal stakeholders and external clients.

Jason Chase

CTO

Jason joined Comtrac with over two decades of experience designing, building and managing information systems for government and private sector organisations of all shapes and sizes.

He has experience in software design, development, delivery, support, technical leadership, pre-sales support, stakeholder engagement and vendor management. Jason is a technologist at heart, and has a continuing passion for technology to drive business outcomes.

Prior to joining Comtrac, Jason worked with and lead many teams delivering software solutions for Federal, State and Local Government. He has also delivered commercial products in the audio, financial, mining and aerospace industries.

Dave Tormey

CIO/CISO

As the Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Comtrac, Dave leads the technology and data strategy for the organisation. Leveraging Dave’s experience as the former CTO at Comtrac for 9.5 years, he now oversees the organisation’s digital transformation, technology architecture, data management, cybersecurity, and compliance initiatives.

In addition to this and since assuming the role of Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Comtrac in January 2021, Dave has overseen the implementation of an ISO 27001-compliant Information Security Management System (ISMS) and successfully led the organisation through an IRAP assessment. This achievement has enabled Comtrac to host Australian government workloads at the PROTECTED level, solidifying its reputation as a trusted partner for both public and private sector entities. Dave’s strategic leadership and dedication to cybersecurity excellence have significantly bolstered Comtrac’s defences in the face of evolving threats.

Dave is passionate about driving digital transformation, fostering a culture of innovation, and building high-performing technology teams. His expertise spans software development, data management, cybersecurity, and strategic leadership, supported by a strong technical background.

Craig Doran

Founder & CEO

Craig Doran has over 22 years of experience in complex investigations from the Qld Police Service within the Fraud & Corporate Crime Unit, State Drug Investigation Group, Property Crime Unit and the Crime and Corruption Commission. During that period Craig received an Assistant Commissioners Certificate for conviction of an international fraud syndicate and later a Commissioners Certificate for the first ever successful dismantling and removal of an outlaw motorcycle gang from Queensland.

From 2008 to 2011, Craig led a team at the Crime and Corruption Commission, designing a digital evidence and brief management system that was quickly accepted by the Director of Public Prosecution Office and resulted in a Corporate Award for the digital transformation of briefs of evidence.

In 2016, Craig became the Founder and CEO of Comtrac. Comtrac is a digital brief of evidence application designed to streamline the criminal justice process by automating the brief of evidence through a digital and brief management methodology known as Elementising Evidence™.