PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The growth of social media has prompted law enforcement at every level to join the trend.

Police are not only using social media to reach out to the public for information, but also to mine for evidence of criminal conduct (see related story).

More than a few criminals have posted incriminating pictures or videos, or texted statements that have been used against them in court (see related story).

FBI special agent JJ Klaver says the Internet is another tool that helps in their mission.

“Like any source of information in criminal investigations, it can benefit us, help an investigation, in helping us determine if there is information out there that’s relevant to an investigation we are conducting,” Klaver says, “(and) are there witnesses to a crime that might be accessible via the Internet through the social media sites?”

Meanwhile, the FBI and many local police departments now have accounts on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites.

Reported by Tony Hanson, KYW Newsradio 1060.