NCJ Number
180912
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 26 Issue: 11 Dated: November 1999 Pages: 16-18
Date Published
November 1999
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The Internet is the fastest growing community in the history of the world and can offer a wide range of information to aid the police in conducting investigations.
Abstract
Police also need to be aware of some pitfalls and issues. The information available on the Internet is wide ranging, but it is rarely very detailed. However, the Internet is a useful place to start gathering general information about a topic. Visiting the web sites of fringe groups and specialized interest organizations can give law enforcement a solid foundation of knowledge, so that officers can ask the right questions when interviewing experts or members of the group. The Internet is also a useful tool for finding people and for conducting research on corporations. The search engines on the Internet all have good and bad points; investigators should use multiple search engines and multiple searches. They should also verify the information from sources outside the Internet. The Internet will continue to become more a part of people's daily lives and will also become more integral to law enforcement operations. The Internet will also be the crime community of the future; therefore police need to be aware of and able to deal with the kinds of crime committed partly or totally on the Internet. Photographs