KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — Crime victims in East Tennessee may no longer have to wait years for answers, thanks to a new task force focused on digital forensics.

The East Tennessee High Tech Task Force was created through grant funding to help local law enforcement agencies process evidence from phones, computers and other technology seized during investigations. Leaders said the turnaround time can be a matter of hours — a stark contrast to the months or even years-long backlogs seen across the country, and at larger agencies across the state.

“Things go stale in that kind of time period,” task force official Michael Menz said. "It's an idea that's unlike anything anybody else has done."

The program, which started with a grant, now includes 18 partner agencies across the region. It provide

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