Cyberstalking
Cheryl Vance
06/30/13
Cyberstalking
There are several stages to investigating a cyberstalking case. These stages assume that the identity of the cyberstalker is unknown. Even if the victim suspects an individual, investigators are advised to explore alternative possibilities and suspects. Although past research suggests that most stalkers have prior relationships with victims, this may not apply when the Internet is involved since stranger stalking is easier. Therefore, consider the possibility that the victim knows the stalker, but do not assume that this is the case:
1. Interview victim -determine what evidence the victim has of cyberstalking and obtain details about the victim that can be used to develop victimology. The aim of this initial information gathering stage is to confirm that a crime has been committed and to obtain enough information to move forward with the investigation.
2. Interview others -if there are other people involved, interview them to compile a more complete picture of what occurred.
3. Victimology and risk assessment -determine why an offender chose a specific victim and what risks the offender was willing to take to acquire that victim. The primary aim of this stage of the investigation is to understand the victim-offender relationship and determine where additional digital evidence might be found.
4. Search for additional digital evidence-use what is known about the victim and cyberstalker to perform a thorough search of the Internet. Victimology is key at this stage, guiding investigators to locations that might interest the victim or individuals like the victim. The cyberstalker initially observed or encountered the victim somewhere and investigators should try to determine where. Consider the possibility that the cyberstalker encountered the victim in the physical world. The aim of this stage is to gather more information about the crime, the victim and the cyberstalker.
5. Crime scene characteristics -examine crime
06/30/13
Cyberstalking
There are several stages to investigating a cyberstalking case. These stages assume that the identity of the cyberstalker is unknown. Even if the victim suspects an individual, investigators are advised to explore alternative possibilities and suspects. Although past research suggests that most stalkers have prior relationships with victims, this may not apply when the Internet is involved since stranger stalking is easier. Therefore, consider the possibility that the victim knows the stalker, but do not assume that this is the case:
1. Interview victim -determine what evidence the victim has of cyberstalking and obtain details about the victim that can be used to develop victimology. The aim of this initial information gathering stage is to confirm that a crime has been committed and to obtain enough information to move forward with the investigation.
2. Interview others -if there are other people involved, interview them to compile a more complete picture of what occurred.
3. Victimology and risk assessment -determine why an offender chose a specific victim and what risks the offender was willing to take to acquire that victim. The primary aim of this stage of the investigation is to understand the victim-offender relationship and determine where additional digital evidence might be found.
4. Search for additional digital evidence-use what is known about the victim and cyberstalker to perform a thorough search of the Internet. Victimology is key at this stage, guiding investigators to locations that might interest the victim or individuals like the victim. The cyberstalker initially observed or encountered the victim somewhere and investigators should try to determine where. Consider the possibility that the cyberstalker encountered the victim in the physical world. The aim of this stage is to gather more information about the crime, the victim and the cyberstalker.
5. Crime scene characteristics -examine crime