Roundtable: Understanding Cyber-Offenders and Pathways into Cyber Crime--Current Evidence and Future Directions

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

Cybercrime research has grown substantially over the last two decades from a criminological standpoint. There are myriad publications assessing predictors for involvement in cybercrime offending, with a heavy focus on piracy and simple forms of hacking. This literature demonstrates there is value in traditional criminological theories, such as low self-control and social learning. However, there are still a range of questions that must be addressed in order to improve our knowledge of cyber offenders, most notably the onset of involvement and the various pathways into offending, the role of digital and real peer networks, and factors that may differentiate individuals who have engaged in serious forms of cybercrime relative to more common acts like digital piracy. There is also a need to explore offender pathways and connections into the more organised crime groups at an international level. This evidence is all key to understanding how best to prevent and deter future offenders. This panel will provide an overview of the state of research in this area and elaborate on key empirical questions that must be addressed to improve our understanding of cyber offenders, pathways and potential interventions.

Sub Unit

• Area XIII: Roundtable Sessions

Chair

• Thomas J. Holt, Michigan State University

Discussants

• Thomas J. Holt, Michigan State University

• Adam Bossler, Georgia Southern University

• Russell Brewer, Flinders University

• Marleen Weulen Kranenbarg, NSCR (Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement)

• Richard Jones, National Crime Agency

• Samantha Dowling, Home Office

• Jeffrey DeMarco, Middlesex University