Recognizing the need to share discovery with defense attorneys in an efficient manner, the State Attorney’s Office leverages modern technology to share all digital discovery via the CIP Portal, a secure files-sharing website.
Requirements for Receiving Files
Files are shared with the email address indicated in the Designation of Email Address on file with the State Attorney’s Office.
Please note that the files are shared with the account associated with the email address to which the discovery was shared and cannot be accessed without the proper credentials.
Availability of Files
Files shared to the CIP Portal are available for download for a period of thirty (30) days. Once the 30-day period has expired, the files are automatically deleted. However, if they are still needed for download following expiration, the defense attorney may contact the State Attorney’s Office to request the files be shared again.
File Formats
Files shared to the CIP Portal will be available in a “zipped” or compressed format. Macs automatically unzip the files for the user, while Windows users must right-click and select Extract All or press Shift+E.
Within the zipped file package, media content may require a player to view the file.
For your convenience, we have included a brief list below of popular media players:
| Player Name | Win | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| VLC Player | Y | Y |
| Windows Media Player | Y | Y |
| HEIC Player | Y | NA |
Portal Instructions
Illustrated instructions for registering an account are outlined in the eDiscovery for Defense Attorney document.
Recommendations
As technology progresses, we receive an increasing amount of digital evidence resulting in increased file sizes. We recommend:
Utilize a Download Manager
A download manager will work in the background to download your file. If the download is interrupted for any reason – such as network errors, increased internet traffic, or outage – the download will automatically pause and then resume once the connection has stabilized. Many free download managers are available, such as Free Download Manager.
Available Storage
Many of the files we share are large. The CIP Portal displays the file size of each download. Ensure you save to a location with sufficient disk space.
Troubleshooting
A list of issues and their quick resolutions can be found in the Portal Troubleshooting for Recipients guide.
More Information
Frequently asked questions as well as additional information are found at the CIP Portal Learning Center.
If you experience an issue that is not resolved with any of the above methods, you may email the Help Desk at the State Attorney’s Office. Please be prepared to provide the following: information: