Russell G. Smith

When this book was first published in 2001, the convergence of communications and computing had begun to transform Western industrial societies. Increasing connectivity was accompanied by unprecedented opportunities for crimes of acquisition. The fundamental principle of criminology is that crime follows opportunity, and opportunities for theft abound in the digital age. Electronic Theft named, described and analysed the range of electronic and digital theft, and constituted the first major survey of the field. The authors covered a broad list of electronic misdemeanours, including extortion, defrauding governments, telephone fraud, securities fraud, deceptive advertising and other business practices, industrial espionage, intellectual property crimes, and the misappropriation and unauthorised use of personal information. They were able to capture impressively large amounts of data internationally from both scholarly and professional sources. The book posed and attempted to answer some of the pressing questions to do with national sovereignty and enforceability of laws in 2001.

The convergence of communications and computing has begun to transform Western industrial societies. Increasing connectivity is accompanied by unprecedented opportunities for crimes of acquisition. The fundamental principle of criminology is that crime follows opportunity, and opportunities for theft abound in the digital age. Electronic Theft names, describes and analyses the range of electronic and digital theft, and constitutes the first major survey of the field. The authors cover a broad list of electronic misdemeanours, including extortion, defrauding governments, telephone fraud, securities fraud, deceptive advertising and other business practices, industrial espionage, intellectual property crimes, and the misappropriation and unauthorised use of personal information. They have been able to capture impressively large amounts of data internationally from both scholarly and professional sources. The book poses and attempts to answer some pressing questions to do with national sovereignty and enforceability of laws.

This book explores the role and development of criminological research in the public sector during the last half-century.

This book explores the role and development of criminological research in the public sector during the last half-century. It identifies the benefits such research has provided and assesses whether the community has received value for the funds expended. The Australian Institute of Criminology is used as a case study to illustrate the challenges and pressures facing those who have sought to carry out independent crime and justice research in the public sector, to assess what fifty years of work has achieved and to determine whether or not there remains a need for criminologists to be employed by governments. The book is based on extensive archival research, administrative data analysis, interviews with current and previous staff and the perspectives of scholars in comparable institutions globally. It presents new historical information as well as current and future critical perspectives on crime and justice research in a unique Australian government organization.

As computer-related crime becomes more important globally, both scholarly and journalistic accounts tend to focus on the ways in which the crime has been committed and how it could have been prevented. Very little has been written about what follows: the capture, possible extradition, prosecution, sentencing and incarceration of the cyber criminal. Originally published in 2004, this book provides an international study of the manner in which cyber criminals are dealt with by the judicial process. It is a sequel to the groundbreaking Electronic Theft: Unlawful Acquisition in Cyberspace by Grabosky, Smith and Dempsey (Cambridge University Press, 2001). Some of the most prominent cases from around the world are presented in an attempt to discern trends in the handling of cases, and common factors and problems that emerge during the processes of prosecution, trial and sentencing.

As computer-related crime becomes more widespread globally, both scholarly and journalistic accounts tend to focus on the ways in which the crime has been committed and how it could have been prevented. Very little has been written about what follows: the capture, possible extradition, prosecution, sentencing and incarceration of the cyber criminal. This book provides the first international study of the manner in which cyber-criminals have been dealt with by the judicial process in recent times. Some of the most prominent cases from around the globe have been presented in an attempt to discern trends in the disposition of cases and common factors and problems that emerged during the processes of prosecution, trial and sentencing. This is a valuable resource for all those who seek to recall the facts of some of the world’s most famous prosecutions and to know the reasons why particular sentences were imposed.

This book considers whether or not the General Medical Council's professional conduct jurisdiction acts fairly and justly when dealing both with doctors whose conduct it controls, and members of the public whose interests it was established to protect. By looking at the legal history of the Council since its inception in 1858 until the present, it is possible to see how the system of medical discipline in Britain developed, to reveal its present anomalies and problems, and to see how best to improve the system, if, indeed, such a system is worthy of preservation. Questions such as the role of lay members on the Council, the use of lawyers and Legal Assessors in hearings, how medical issues are resolved and standards of conduct set for the profession, are all considered. Over 2000 disciplinary cases are then surveyed in terms of the type of allegations made, what sort of doctors are involved, and how they are dealt with. Detailed suggestions are finally made for improving the system.