NCJ Number
242346
Journal
Global Crime Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2013 Pages: 61-81
Date Published
February 2013
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This article discusses organised crime research, and social network analysis (SNA).
Abstract
Law enforcement agencies rely on data collected from wire taps to construct the organizational chart of criminal enterprises. Recently, a number of academics have also begun to utilize social network analysis to describe relations among criminals and understand the internal organization of criminal groups. However, before drawing conclusions about the structure or the organization of criminal groups, it is important to understand the limitations that selective samples such as wire taps may have on network analysis measures. Electronic surveillance data can be found in different kinds of court records and the selection of the data source is likely to influence the amount of missing information and, consequently, the results. This article discusses the impact that the selection of a specific data source for the social network analysis of criminal groups may have on centrality measures usually adopted in organized crime research to identify key players. Abstract published by arrangement with Taylor and Francis.