Episode 5 – Digital Forensics Overload: How to Escape the Backlog
Hosted by Jessica Hyde, Debbie Garner, and Kim Bradley

In Episode 5 of the Truth in Data Podcast, hosts Jessica, Debbie, and Kim take on one of the most pressing challenges in digital forensics today: the growing backlog of digital evidence. Drawing from Cellebrite’s 2025 Industry Trends Survey, the discussion explores what’s fueling the overload and how agencies are (or aren’t) responding.

The conversation also touches on a broader trend—how the systemic delays once seen in rape kit processing are now emerging in digital evidence across multiple states, including Tennessee and Kentucky. It's a clear signal that forensic science is shifting, and the stakes are rising. With references to Mark Scanlon’s white paper on data deduplication, Deloitte’s role in police exam support, and the Nashville MNPD case study on backlog reduction through automation, this episode offers both insight and actionable ideas.

Whether you're in the lab or managing a digital forensics team, this episode brings sharp perspective and practical strategies for tackling the backlog.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Cellebrite 2025 Industry Trends Report

• Magnet Forensics: Nashville MNPD Backlog Case Study

• Mark Scanlon’s Paper: Battling the Digital Forensic Backlog through Data Deduplication

• Magnet Forensics: State of Enterprise DFIR – 2025 Report

• Deloitte's role in addressing law enforcement exam backlogs