Discuss the issues relating to cybercrime/computer/high technology/electronic crime units at the state and local level.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

As departmental size decreases, so does the probability that such units exist. These "poor cousins" and larger agencies both face barriers to establishing and growing an effective computer-, cyber-, or electronic-crimes unit, because: (1) the needs for, and benefits of, an electronic crimes unit are not well understood; (2) many local agencies cannot alone afford to provide adequate office space, purchase the necessary hardware and software, or dedicate and train the staff required; (3) administrators are reluctant to engage in the hard and uncertain work of recruiting qualified information technology partners from industry and the academic community; (4) support for such units is often nonexistent or low, especially for administrators who are trying to meet more basic service delivery needs; (5) the inability to fully staff such units means that where they do exist, their mission may be restricted to a few crimes-for example, identity theft, child pornography, online child predators, cyberbullying and stalking, and non-delivery of merchandise ordered online-because the "unit" consists of a single officer; (6) it is difficult to retain trained and experienced officers; (7) existing laws may be inadequate; and (8) prosecutorial expertise may be lacking.
Of necessity, many local agencies depend on the computer-crime expertise of their state investigative agency, state police, or state patrol. These state agencies are often staffed with a combination of officers trained in computer-crime investigation and civilian information technology specialists. In addition to a staff located at headquarters, qualified personnel are usually located within troop commands or other geographical districts. These agencies also operate TFs, as do State Attorney Generals and local prosecutors. A number of local agencies have also cooperated in founding their own units, the services of which are shared.