THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR A NEW CYBER CRIMES INVESTIGATION CENTER. THE RICHMOND-BASED FACILITY WILL KEEP UP WITH THE RAPIDLY-GROWING DEMAND FOR DIGITAL FORENSIC EVIDENCE ANALYSIS. OFFICIALS SAY, AS TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES, SO DOES CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES. THE STATE’S PRESENT DIGITAL FORENSICS LAB IS A CRAMPED 14-HUNDRED SQUARE FOOT SPACE WITH ROOM FOR JUST NINE COMPUTER FORENSIC EXAMINERS. THE NEW LAB WILL BE ABOUT TEN TIMES LARGER AND HAVE SPACE FOR 25 EXAMINERS. TRAINING WILL ALSO BE A LARGE PART OF THE NEW FACILITY. FUNDING IS BEING SECURED FOR THE PROJECT, AND OFFICIALS ARE WAITING ON FINAL APPROVAL FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.