NCJ Number
124840
Date Published
1989
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study determines the extent of computer crime in Florida and assesses what impact it may be having on local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors in the State.
Abstract
The study consisted of developing three different survey questionnaires on the topic of computer crime which were sent to sheriff's, police, and public safety departments; state attorney's offices; and public and private sector organizations in Florida. A total of 702 responses were received for an overall return rate of 54 percent. One out of four business respondents reported they were a victim of some type of computer crime in the last 12 months. Law enforcement agencies, as well as state attorney's offices, have only been exposed to a limited amount of computer crime investigations. Monetary losses to organizations due to computer crime were reported as high as $1 million in the last 12 months. Computer crime suspects, when identified, were most often employees of the victim organization and appear to be motivated most by the lure of personal financial gain and intellectual challenge. Training for law enforcement in computer crime investigations is almost nonexistent. The best improvements that can be made in combatting computer crime include better self-protection by organizations, better training for law enforcement in computer crime investigations, and better methods for detecting computer crime. 4 figures, appendix.