Typically in the world of technology, US law enforcement has lagged behind criminals in tools, resources, training and know-how.  Computer crime is something, that until recently, had federal prosecutors, investigators and judges mystified and even a little bit terrified.  A crime that used to take a great deal of physical risk on the part of the criminal, such as robbing a bank, became someone a teenager in his parents basement could do.  And be harder to catch. 

To combat this gap in criminal versus law enforcement knowledge, the Department of Homeland Security and the US Secret Service are teaming up to open a computer forensic institute in Hoover Alabama, scheduled for completion by January 2008.  The institute will help to educate cops, prosecutors, judges, and anyone else connected with tracking down and prosecuting computer crimes.