Pushing the Boundaries on What is a Gang: A Comparative Study of Malicious Hackers and Gang Members

• In Event: Digital Shadows: Exploring Mental Health, Criminal Offending, and Group Membership in the Hacker Community

Abstract

Thrasher (1927) highlighted that street gangs were interstitial groups operating within the cracks of society. Almost a century later, cyberspace has become an integral part of society and the study of how gangs have evolved and entered these spaces has developed into a burgeoning area of research. Much of the research on gangs in cyberspace has focused on gang members’ use of the internet and reviewing and analyzing social media content. However, empirical work has yet to compare gangs to cybercrime groups. In this study, we theorize about parallels between hacker groups and gangs and develop a comparative model that emphasizes linkages between gangs and hacker groups and use data on verified active malicious hackers and gang members to compare them across group involvement, gang-related group processes, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results from this study will provide insight into whether cyberspace hacking groups closely resemble gangs, contribute to the study of typologies in criminology, and highlight policy and practice implications for responding to these groups.

Authors

• Jennifer J. Tostlebe, University of Nebraska Omaha

• Jose Sanchez, Texas Christian University

• Christian Jordan Howell, University of South Florida

• Katelyn Smith, University of South Florida