Introduction
The world is changing continuously, and with each passing day, every aspect of it also changes, such as changes in technology, fashion, transportation, and even the nature of crime. With the advancement of technology, criminals are trying to find new ways to perform criminal activities (Europol, 2024).
Technology-Enabled Crime
Technological advancement has led the world to another level, so crime has also become more tech-oriented. The rates of crime related to computer systems have increased over the last decade, but technological advancements are continuously increasing, which means that there will be more crime using technology or based on technology. Future crimes will be computer-oriented, such as cyberbullying, cyber assault, cyber extortion, human malware, and other crimes that involve a computer. Other crimes that will be more prevalent in the future are hacking, sextortion, child-based pornography, and financial theft (Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI], 2024).
Modern Law Enforcement Technologies
As criminals are adopting technology for crimes, law enforcement agencies are also updating their investigation techniques. In this way, they are trying to stay one step ahead of the criminals. With the help of technology, everything can be recorded, and this can ease the whole process of law enforcement. Along with cameras in their pockets, the members of law enforcement agencies have body cams for their protection as well (National Institute of Justice [NIJ], 2022). The advancement of technology has not only led to quicker processes but also saved time. Technology has introduced the GPS system, tracking, DNA identification, and other forensic advancements, which can give the investigation a new direction and also put it in a fast-paced mode (National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST], 2022). Law enforcement agencies are also using social media sites for the investigation of crimes, public service messages in emergency situations, outreach to the community, and soliciting tips on crime. Because nowadays everyone has access to smartphones, the crime reporting rate has also increased, which has increased public safety. Technological advancement has also impacted individual rights as the world of computers is totally different for individuals, and one has to take responsibility to protect their rights.
Institutional Response and Investigation Quality
The response of police departments and prosecutorial agencies will be positive toward the new vanguards in criminal justice. This new vanguard will enhance the quality of work performed by these departments; it will not spare criminals and will also be more active in reducing professional abuse. People, in general, have a negative connotation of police, but society always needs the help of the police. With this change toward objective use of power, the police department will lead to a more peaceful society where the law is properly enforced. This process will also decrease corruption in a legal setup, making it more transparent.
Jurisdictional Challenges in Cybercrime
The traditional jurisdiction hinders the investigation in the cyber world. Cybercrime has advanced to another level, and traditional methods are not enough to combat the issue. The horizon of cybercrimes and the cyber world has expanded, and there are different types of crimes, such as drug sales, human trafficking, identity theft, financial theft, and even pornography, as well as cyber-sexual assault. Tracking these crimes and investigating the crime with traditional methods is not as fast as it should be. Also, anonymity has hindered the way traditional jurisdiction systems investigate crime. The transnational nature of the crime is also another reason why it is hard to investigate at times (INTERPOL, 2024). If any active hacker enters the database of the traditional system, it could not only leak sensitive data but would also hinder law enforcement.
Trends in Property and Violent Crime
Property crime includes breaking and entering a house, vehicle theft, and some other personal crimes, whereas violent crimes include murders. The pattern of the crime previously was that property crimes increased in the 1970s and declined in the 1990s, but it is predicted that property-related crimes will increase in the future, and one of the possible reasons is that a proliferation of the latest technology in the home setting might increase the targets of thieves and burglars. Over the years, the violent crime rate has not declined, and even if there is some progress in reducing the violent crime rate, the result is rather insignificant. Instead, it is being observed that violent crimes are rising, and every day there are more crimes than there were in the last decade. The frequency of violent crimes is increasing, and there are all types of crimes, such as assault, shooting, bombarding, drug crimes, and human trafficking. People are more violent than ever because now, even the people implementing law enforcement are also not safe, and they have to wear body cameras for their safety. Both violent and property crimes are dependent on the frequency of young men in society and whether the number is rising or falling. Based on the current pattern, evidence or research suggests that there will be an increase in violent or property crimes in the next two decades.
Conclusion
To conclude, the crime rate has increased over the years, and criminals have found new ways to perform their activities, and law enforcement is also opting for new technologies. In the cyber world, the traditional system is a hindrance to the investigation of crime.
References
Europol. (2024, July 22). Internet organised crime threat assessment (IOCTA) 2024. https://www.europol.europa.eu/publication-events/main-reports/internet-organised-crime-threat-assessment-iocta-2024
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2024, March 18). IC3 annual report and fraud flyer. Internet Crime Complaint Center. https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA240318
INTERPOL. (2024, February 1). INTERPOL-led operation targets growing cyber threats. https://www.interpol.int/News-and-Events/News/2024/INTERPOL-led-operation-targets-growing-cyber-threats
National Institute of Justice. (2022, January 7). Research on body-worn cameras and law enforcement. https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/research-body-worn-cameras-and-law-enforcement
National Institute of Standards and Technology. (2022). Digital investigation techniques: A NIST scientific foundation review (NISTIR 8354). https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.8354
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