Modern times have witnessed a rapid rise in the usage of computers, as well as other technological equipment that utilize computer networks. In spite of a number of benefits that computers and computer systems have had in making life easier, advances in the usage of computers have created an avenue for the proliferation of criminal activities. Accordingly, computer and cybercrimes have grown to be significant criminal activities causing law enforcement agencies to focus keenly on their mitigation (Bregant &Bregant, 2014). On the flipside, computer and computer networks have equally been utilized by law enforcers as an excellent tool for locating and arresting criminals. Irrespective of their geographical locations, perpetrators of criminal activities leave some form of online footprints that a multi-agency use of computer systems can utilize to track and subsequently arrest them. Accordingly, this paper analyzes the role of computer systems within the agencies that fight crime through the eyes of a forensic psychologist investigator.
Agencies and Resources to Engage
Effective tracking of criminal using their online footprints necessitates the input of a number of agencies. The Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] plays a critical role is aiding the tracking criminals online. According to the FBI (2016), part of its investigative mandate is to investigate cybercrime using its Cyber Division. The Division employs collaborative efforts with agencies of mutual interest such as the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to address cybercrime in a cohesive coordinated manner. Accordingly, the FBI as an agency will be useful for me as I track international criminal by providing infrastructure and consultative intelligence to use the online footprints of the criminal attempt to locate the offender.
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Tracking down criminals with international operations is not the exclusive mandate of the FBI. Such other agencies as Interpol can also play a critical role in the search for international criminals. Among the main functions that Interpol serves is that it coordinates efforts among different security agencies and constantly monitors the trends that are shaping the criminal landscape (“Collective Action against Cybercrime”, 2017). Given the wide mandate of Interpol, there is no doubt that its involvement in the search for the criminal would be invaluable. Sharing relevant information and seeking the cooperation of other agencies are some of the services that Interpol can offer. For example, Interpol can seek the involvement of the security agencies of the countries where the criminal is known to have operations as part of the search effort.
In addition to engaging such agencies as Interpol and the FBI, the search process will also involve the use of various tools. Social media is among these tools. According to the FBI, social media is serving an increasingly critical role in law enforcement (Stuart, 2013). The appropriate use of social media enables officers to partner with the public for such purposes as sharing information that helps to make communities safer. Additionally, social media has become a vital source of evidence that aids the work of law enforcement officers (Stuart, 2013). Given the importance of social media, it will form part of the tools used to track down the criminal. For example, social media platforms like Facebook can be used to appeal to the public to share any information that could facilitate the arrest of the criminal.
The Search Process
Cybercrime is among the gravest challenges that law enforcement faces today. Perpetrators are devising new methods are police agencies are struggling to keep up (Wexler, 2014). It is therefore essential for officers to be deliberate and dedicated in their quest to eliminate cybercrime. While searching for the criminal, it is important to initiate an elaborate process that leverages digital technologies and enlist the support of various agencies and resources. The search process will begin by contacting the local agencies in whose jurisdiction the most recent crime was committed. As Wexler (2014) points out, local law enforcement agencies are uniquely placed to aid anti-cybercrime efforts. The local agency may provide such information as the last known location or the particulars of the crime committed. The next step in the search process will involve an identification of resources. Scouring the internet for any helpful information will dominate the rest of the search process. For example, it could be that the criminal left clues and evidence on a digital platform. Should the internet search fail to yield any helpful insights, the search process will proceed to enlist the assistance of international partners like Interpol. It is expected that through international collaboration, the search process will culminate in the arrest of the criminal.
Using the Internet
As noted earlier, social media has become an indispensable tool in the arsenal of the modern law enforcement agent. The relevance and significance of the internet to law enforcement stem from the fact that digital spaces have become the new avenue where such crimes as sexual exploitation of minors are being committed (Kloess, Beech & Harkins, 2014). Moreover, it is understood that terrorist groups are exploiting their internet for such functions as propagating propaganda and recruitment (Argomaniz, 2014). Law enforcement agencies need to reclaim the internet by using digital technologies to track down criminals. The search for the international criminal will involve an extensive application of internet technologies. Among other things, the internet will be used to invite the public to participate in the search process by providing information. Furthermore, the search process will benefit from the use of digital technologies as it will be possible to alert the public about the danger that the criminal poses. The internet will also be employed in gathering key data and evidence that could facilitate the search for and the subsequent prosecution of the criminal.
In conclusion, the changes being witnessed in the digital world are reflected in the work of law enforcement agencies. Today, the agencies are confronted with complex challenges for which they are ill prepared to tackle. Fortunately, a number of resources are available. Using these resources, the agencies can enhance their preparedness to address such emerging challenges as tackling cybercrime. Collaboration and the integration of digital technologies hold the key to curbing new security threats. If they are to be effective in fulfilling their mandate of safeguarding communities against various forms of threats, law enforcement agencies must keep up with the changes occurring in the digital world.
References
Argomaniz, J. (2015). European Union responses to terrorist use of the Internet. Cooperation & Conflict, 50(2), 250–268. doi:10.1177/0010836714545690
Collective action against cybercrime. (2017). Interpol. Retrieved January 25, 2019 from https://www.interpol.int/content/download/20098/180819/version/19/file/IGCI-CIO_strategy%20and%20outreach_projectsheet_2017-03_EN_web.pdf
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2016). What we investigate: Cyber crime. Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/cyber/cyber
Kloess, J. A., Beech, A. R., & Harkins, L. (2014). Online child sexual exploitation: Prevalence, process, and offender characteristics. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 15(2), 126–139. doi:10.1177/1524838013511543
Stuart, R. D. (2013). Social media: Establishing criteria for law enforcement use. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. Retrieved from https://leb.fbi.gov/2013/february/social-media-establishing-criteria-for-law-enforcement-use
Wexler, C. (2014). Critical issues in policing series: The role of local law enforcement agencies in preventing and investigating cybercrime. Retrieved from http://www.policeforum.org/assets/docs/Critical_Issues_Series_2/the%20role%20of%20local%20law%20enforcement%20agencies%20in%20preventing%20and%20investigating%20cybercrime%202014.pdf
