Policing cybercrime: Responding to the growing problem and considering future solutions

Law enforcement faces significant challenges when investigating cybercrime, both by individual officers and organizations. Perceptions of cybercrime and its perpetrators by law enforcement officers varies depending on several factors such as the rank of the officer or the type of crime. Due to officer discretion in the field, these perceptions may influence the response to cybercrime complaints. Another concern for agencies is the exposure of officers to trauma. Some cybercrime investigations, like Internet crimes against children, may result in exposure to traumatic stimulus, much like “traditional” violent crimes. Organizations also face the challenge of enforcing cyber-specific legislation or must interpret existing law in its application to cybercrime while dealing with jurisdictional issues. Despite advances in the field of digital forensics, additional basic training for line officers is still needed. This chapter will address both the human and organizational factors of law enforcement response to cybercrime.