Cyberstalking - Research and Evaluation to Enhance Criminal Justice

The goal of this research is to empower investigators and prosecutors by identifying the most important case elements, factors, evidence, and investigative and prosecutorial strategies that have been employed (both successfully and unsuccessfully) in these prosecutions. Using multiple datasets, and information obtained from subject matter experts, this research will identify, collect, examine, and analyze criminal cyberstalking cases. This project will apply natural language processing and regression modeling to identify correlations between the case data collected and case outcomes. The project findings will then be complied and documented in a journal article and in training materials, to aid investigators and prosecutors in their ongoing efforts to combat the crime of cyberstalking. The primary impact of this research will be to enable and empower investigators and prosecutors to combat cyberstalking despite the many impediments presented by existing (out of date) statutes, as well as the challenge associated when a new, complex, criminal statute is enacted – in this case, 18 U.S.C. § 2261A (2013). This research will identify, extract, analyze, and articulate the most probative factors, characteristics, and evidence that lead to successful cyberstalking prosecutions to date. By doing so, the products of the research will expedite the often decades-long institutional knowledge-building processes that investigators and prosecutors normally contend with when new criminal behavior and new statutes addressing such behavior enter the law enforcement and judicial institutional frameworks. Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law, and complies with Part 200 Uniform Requirements - 2 CFR 200.210(a)(14). CA/NCF