NCJ Number
175958
Editor(s)
R C Hollinger
Date Published
1997
Length
610 pages
Annotation
The nature and extent of crime associated with the development of computer technology are examined in this volume, one in a series of volumes dealing with criminological schools and theories and with approaches to particular areas of crime, criminal justice, and penology.
Abstract
Chapters in the volume parallel the various periods of scholarly focus related to the discovery of computer abuse from 1946 to 1976, the criminalization of computer crime from 1977 to 1987, the demonization of hackers from 1988 to 1992, and censorship from 1993 to the present. Beginning chapters document the discovery of computer abuse and the development of a unique subculture of offenders. Subsequent chapters cover sociological factors leading the criminalization of deviant computer abuse, efforts to prosecute computer hackers, and the computer censorship debate. Particular attention is paid to the development of microcomputers and related abuse, consensual realities in cyberspace, computer crime laws, technology and the law, viruses and criminal law, computer crime prevention, the impact of computers on society, computer software piracy, the Internet, electronic publishing, and pornography. References, notes, footnotes, tables, and figures