NCJ Number
138931
Journal
Policing & Society Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (June 1992) Pages: 307-320
Date Published
1992
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This paper argues that computer crime has not been systematically addressed and that such crime poses unique problems for police forces.
Abstract
Problems relate to the absence of reliable statistics on computer crime due to difficulties in defining computer crime and the background and motivation of those providing information and statistics on incidents of computer crime; attitudes of police toward computer criminals, how computer criminals are treated by the courts, and the culpability of victim organizations; and the adequacy of police officer training to deal with technological crime. A forensic methodology is suggested for dealing with computer crime that covers investigation, legal aspects (possible offenses and rules of evidence), skills and equipment needed to present computer crime evidence in court, and appropriate computing skills. The authors propose that investigative, legal, courtroom, and computing skills be integrated as an extension of forensic science; the term suggested for this new discipline is computer forensics. Implications of the growth in computer crime for police training are discussed. 10 references and 28 footnotes