Unauthorized Access to School Networks. Harassment and Threats via Electronic Media, and the Use of Technology to Facilitate Other Crimes Unauthorized access to school networks is a prosecutable offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-23 et seq. Any damage to the network may result in more severe penalties. School officials may consider unauthorized accessing of a school network to be an internal matter and not advise law enforcement authorities. However, law enforcement personnel are specially trained in forensic computer analysis. The ability to accurately assess the level of intrusion into a computer system is best handled by law enforcement professionals. Often the significance of an attack on the integrity of a school computer network can extend into the community. The ability of law enforcement to quantify any unauthorized use or access can bring peace of mind to concerned citizens in the community. Accordingly, when notification to law enforcement is appropriate, notification should be made to law enforcement immediately upon learning of unauthorized access. In addition to accessing computer systems, it has unfortunately become commonplace for juveniles to utilize electronic forms of communication to harass and threaten other students or individuals. The mere fact that the communication is in electronic form, rather than oral or written form is irrelevant. School personnel should be guided by the reporting obligations elsewhere in this agreement. School personnel should be mindful of the fact that forensic computer analysis of an individual computer or network can result in valuable evidence for an investigation. Therefore, when notification to law enforcement is appropriate, the entirety of the investigation should be conducted by law enforcement so as not to compromise the integrity of potential evidence. Finally, computers and other forms of current and emerging technology may be used to facilitate other criminal activity. Financial information, identifying information and illicit images may all be contained on a suspect’s computer. Therefore, it is vital that law enforcement be notified immediately when a school learns that a juvenile may be using a computer to violate the law. Similarly, cell phones, smart phones, tablets, PDAs and other electronic communication devices should be turned over to the police, not parents, when the school comes into possession of items which they suspect may contain evidence of criminal behavior. For any offense committed on media, reporting should be guided by Art...
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