Computer investigations and forensics could be categorized several ways; for the purposes of
this discussion, it falls into two distinct categories: public investigations and private or corporate
investigations (see Figure 1-5).
Public investigations involve government agencies responsible for criminal investigations and
prosecution. Government agencies range from local, county, and state or provincial police
departments to federal regulatory enforcement agencies. These organizations must observe
legal guidelines, such as Article 8 in the Charter of Rights of Canada, the Criminal Procedures
Act of the Republic of Namibia, and U.S. Fourth Amendment issues of search and seizure (see
Figure 1-6).