35 Cybercriminals: Challenges and Lessons Learned from Impunity in Cyberspace

• In Event: Cybercrime Unmasked: Myths, AI, and the Reality of Impunity

Abstract

This study addresses the challenges and lessons learned regarding impunity in cyberspace, focusing on the identification and judicialization of cybercriminals, many of whom are mistakenly prosecuted due to the complexity of the advanced technical knowledge involved in cybercrimes. Through an exploratory approach, the research used the analysis of qualitative data to deepen the understanding of the judicial experience and current practices in the prosecution of these crimes. Thirty-five interviews were conducted with individuals judicialized for cybercrimes, aiming to better understand the difficulties faced by judicial systems in handling digital crime cases. The use of general theory of crime, as a basis for criminological theory, supports the approach and scope of the study, aiming to propose recommendations for the investigation of cybercrime and the judicialization of cybercriminals.

Authors

• Ana Castañeda-Acosta, Southern Illinois University

• Mike Toro, Southern Illinois University