Cybercrime Policing Capabilities in the U.S.: A National-level Survey of Law Enforcement Agencies

• In Event: Research on the State of Cybercrime and Law Enforcement Capability in the United States

Abstract

Though much of the problem of cybercrime and nation-state sponsored attacks stem from foreign nationals, the harms are suffered by individuals at the local level. In the US, there is often a supposition that local police agencies are unable to adequately respond to cybercrime calls for service. There is minimal research that can support or refute this claim, calling to question what the current capabilities of local law enforcement across the country. This presentation will present the findings of a national survey sampling local sheriffs and police agencies regarding their experiences with cybercrime calls for service, their staffing to respond to these problems, and their training and resource needs. Both quantitative and qualitative analyses will be used to understand variations in the capacities of agencies and their staff. The findings will highlight strengths and limitations in the current police landscape, and illustrate areas for improvement that could be informed by both public and private resources to increase their overall abilities.

Authors

• Kexin Cui, Michigan State University

• Jeffrey Rojek, Michigan State University

• Jeremiah Schutter, Michigan State University

• Rachel L. McNealey, Michigan State University

• Thomas Holt, Michigan State University