Critical cell site information often missing from search warrant returns
This article presents an issue in the discovery process relating to Call Detail Records and Historical Cell Site Location Information in criminal cases. Provider search warrant returns almost never include the cell site database, even when the language in the search warrant requests it. I suspect the reason is because the providers regularly upload cell site lists to law enforcement-only portals, and thus, they assume law enforcement has access to them. A combination of a disclaimer and misunderstanding causes issues for the defense in its analysis of the records. UPDATED: 2/8/2026 Cell site lists not provided with discovery The use of historical cell site location information (CSLI) is commonly used in criminal cases and increasingly more in civil cases. CSLI is information provided by Mobile Network Operators (MNO) (e.g. T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon) and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) (e.g. Boost Mobile, Cricket Wireless, Tracfone). I'll refer to them collect...