Law Enforcement Research Articles

The relationships between law enforcement authorities and underground raves: a case study of OTUM rave festival in the Maldives

ABSTRACT This article analyzes the relationship between underground raves and law enforcement authorities. It is centred on the police raid of the OTUM rave festival held on the uninhabited island of Anbaraa in the Maldives, specifically focusing on the perceptions of ravers present during the raid of the OTUM rave festival. The data on which this paper is based stems from open-ended interviews with ravers who were present during the raid. Ravers felt that police used excessive force at the rave festival. They arrested 79 ravers for possessing recreational substances, including LSD, cannabis, and ecstasy. The police raided the rave festival due to pressure from religious clerics and to appease the more conservative members of the mainstream society. The results from this study suggest that treating ravers as criminals and threatening them with imprisonment creates a disconnection between the underground rave community and the mainstream society, widening rather than healing divides and reinforcing ideas of deviance and resistance.

The role of cyber intelligence in policing cybercrime in South Africa: Insights from law enforcement officers

ABSTRACT The rapid increase of technology and the sophistication in which it is used to obtain and manipulate information presents fertile ground for cybercriminals. Thus, the consequent increase of cybercrime in South Africa poses a threat to individuals, government, businesses, and security agencies; ultimately causing extensive financial losses to the economy. The huge preventive cost incurred by putting in place stringent preventative measures, affect the financial status of individuals and threatens the sustainability of many companies. This study aimed to examine the policing of cybercrime in South Africa by analysing the experiences of police officers who are involved in the policing of this crime. It focussed on the use of cyber intelligence and cybersecurity measures for monitoring, preventing, and combating cybercrime. An empirical study was conducted in five selected provinces of South Africa, and Tesch’s data analysis method was used. The findings indicate the challenges that investigators encounter in obtaining credible digital evidence such as the frequent expiry of digital forensic licences. These challenges are compounded by victims’ unwillingness to testify due to the fear of losing their clients, and the need to protect the reputation of their companies.

Waste management system: sanitary-epidemiological and environmental aspects

Introduction. Despite the positive trends in the field of industrial and consumer waste management, issues related to the legal regulation of activities to eliminate objects of accumulated damage to the environment and its relationship with activities to eliminate unauthorized landfills remain unresolved. A separate and important problematic aspect is the assignment of waste to a certain hazard class and their subsequent accounting and neutralization. The study aims to consider the established practice of using sanitary-epidemiological and environmental legislation in the management of industrial and consumer waste, including in assessing their toxicity. Materials and methods. The authors conducted the study using an information and analytical method for analyzing regulatory documentation and scientific publications from the databases Elibrary, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Techexpert, Consultant, etc. They also compared the topical issues of assessing the toxicity of production and consumption waste and identified the specifics of the methodology for calculating the amount of damage as a result of unauthorized waste disposal. Results. It has been established that one of the optimal solutions in the issue of assessing the hazard class of waste may be to bring the criteria for their classification according to the degree of toxicity to uniformity, as well as the development of a single document carried out by institutions regardless of departmental subordination. Studies conducted to determine the amount of damage as a result of unauthorized disposal of production and consumption waste and to establish the hazard class of waste must comply with the requirements of uniformity of measurements and accreditation in the national system, respectively. To correctly calculate the amount of harm, you need to use the value of the mass of waste with the same hazard class. The availability of separate documents in sanitary-epidemiological and environmental legislation can significantly affect the calculation of the amount of harm due to various methods of determining the hazard class of waste, as well as the timeliness of identifying the long-term impact of waste on the environment and public health. Limitations. The study is limited to the analysis of law enforcement practice in the field of waste management, as well as the results of research in domestic and international literature. The analysis will allow researchers to consider non-obvious and controversial issues in the planning of activities. Conclusion. Updating documents on the establishment of the hazard class of waste should be carried out considering law enforcement practice. The absence of duality in compliance with the established requirements in both the field of environmental and sanitary-epidemiological legislation can be a guarantee of the reliability and truthfulness of research. This will allow you to make the right management decisions. Ethics. The study does not require the submission of the conclusion of the biomedical ethics committee.

Ransomware HR: Human Resources Practices and Organizational Support in the Conti Ransomware Group

ABSTRACT Ransomware is widely regarded as one of the most economically damaging cybercrimes. Existing criminological research has focused largely on the structure, routines, and activities of ransomware groups, or traced financial transactions to advance understanding of their associated harms. This paper explores how the Conti ransomware group employed human resources (HR) practices and other organizational supports to recruit, retain, and motivate its employees. Data is drawn from a leaked dataset containing tens of thousands of messages between employees and affiliates of Conti. We analyze this dataset through the lens of organizational support theory (OST), one of the most influential theories in the field of organization and management psychology. Our analysis shows that Conti employed a variety of HR practices to improve worker satisfaction and commitment, many of which are supported by OST research. By better understanding these practices, we aim to provide a novel, theoretically informed perspective through which the operations of ransomware groups can be better understood. The paper concludes with a discussion of how this knowledge can be used to inform the development of law enforcement strategies intended to disrupt ransomware groups.

Planning of the investigation of criminal offenses in the sphere of economic activities committed involving law enforcement officials: The Ukrainian perspective

The article is devoted to formulation of theoretical principles and practical recommendations regarding organization and planning of the investigation of criminal offenses in the field of economic activity, which are committed with the participation (assistance) of law enforcement officers. The methodology for the article is chosen taking into account the purpose and tasks, object and subject matter of the study. The research results were obtained with the help of the following methods: dialectical; formal and logical; formal and legal; comparative and legal; historical and legal, complex analysis; analysis and synthesis; axiomatic; system and structural method. The obtained results of the study indicated that organization and planning of the investigation of criminal acts under consideration is a purposeful activity of the authorized bodies, which is carried out under the guidance of the investigator, detective of the pre-trial investigation body. These activities require systematic, comprehensive approach and must take into account a wide range of circumstances that can affect the process and results of the investigation: the nature of the criminal offense, access to the necessary financial, human and technical resources; the competence of the investigator, the detective; terms and deadlines for investigation and presenting materials to the court, establishing effective cooperation between competent authorities. The study highlights the peculiarities of the organization and planning of the investigation of criminal offenses in economic activities, when law enforcement officers are involved, and suggests directions for improving the effectiveness of their implementation.

Are veterans willing to assist with firearm safety for suicide prevention?

ABSTRACT Veterans in the United States are affected by suicide at higher rates than the general population. This may be due to a higher probability for veterans to use more lethal methods of suicides such as firearms. While veterans often decline to disclose suicidal tendencies to healthcare providers, they show higher connectedness and willingness to heed the advice of peers. Considering this information, it is important to analyze how veteran peers could assist in a suicidal crisis. Veteran responses (n = 1,247) to the Gatekeeper Behavior Scale (GBS) and Firearm Safety Scale (FSS) were analyzed to determine predictive traits of willingness to assist a peer securely store or disable firearms during a suicidal crisis. Results show that veterans are willing to assist in securing firearms to prevent suicide death but are more willing to do so by locking, removing or disabling the firearms than storing them with law enforcement. Older veterans were also more likely to report a willingness to intervene than their younger peers. Of the GBS predictors, only the Likeliness to Help subscale predicted a willingness to intervene with firearm safety. Recommendations for training and interventions that further encourage helping behavior during suicidal episodes are discussed.

Teleoperated Communication Robot: A Law Enforcement Perspective

The goal of this paper is to investigate the use of communication robots as tools to increase the safety of first responders (specifically, law enforcement officers) during social interactions or first-response situations. This paper functions as the first stage of our investigation into communication robots for use by first responders. The law enforcement officers (LEOs) in our study were provided with a mobile communication robot to determine if such robots could be of use in the public domain for the benefit of both civilians and LEOs. As part of our study, LEOs participated in training sessions where they worked with non-weaponized teleoperated communication robots and completed pretest-posttest surveys. The surveys captured LEOs’ perceptions and attitudes towards the robot and examined the impact of robot design features on LEOs’ acceptance of the communication robot. This paper discusses the significance and potential use of communication robots as tools in the future of law enforcement. Our future works include conducting additional studies involving affected stakeholders (e.g., citizen communities) and assessing/mitigating any potential negative impact of communication robots.

Unpacking job satisfaction among law enforcement through self-determination theory: a meta-analytic approach

Unpacking job satisfaction among law enforcement through self-determination theory: a meta-analytic approach

Making the Leap: From Law Enforcement and Marketing to Business Owners

Making the Leap: From Law Enforcement and Marketing to Business Owners

IDENTIFEYE: Sketch-Based Facial Analysis in Forensics

Traditional forensic methods, like hand-drawn sketches, often fall short in quickly identifying suspects, making the process both slow and resource-intensive. This paper introduces an innovative application designed to streamline this task. Through a simple drag-and-drop interface, users can upload sketches and match them with entries in police databases, significantly boosting the speed and accuracy of suspect recognition. By integrating deep learning and cloud technology, this tool builds on existing algorithms to deliver higher precision and ease of use. Earlier methods have had trouble aligning sketches with photographs, especially when orientations differ. Our application overcomes these issues, merging the art of sketching with modern technology to enhance forensic work. Testing reveals promising accuracy, though ongoing improvements are needed to fully meet the demands of law enforcement. This research aims to offer a real-world solution, tackling past limitations and making suspect identification faster and more efficient for investigators. Keywords: Forensic identification, Suspect sketching, Deep learning, Recognition software, Law enforcement tools, Cloud technology.

Navigating policing and work-life balance in the South Pacific

ABSTRACT Policing in the South Pacific is influenced by a myriad of factors including cultural norms, historical legacies, socio-economic disparities, and geopolitical dynamics. Against this backdrop, law enforcement officers face multifaceted challenges in reconciling the demands of their profession with personal and familial obligations. This article discusses the challenges faced by police officers as they attempt to balance their professional and personal lives. Interviews were conducted with male (N = 50) and female (N = 50) constables from the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to gain insight into the challenges they face as RSIPF officers, the support available to them and the further resources they see as necessary to improve their work-life balance. Findings reveal a complex interplay of factors shaping officers’ work-life dynamics, including shift work schedules, high-pressure environments, community expectations, and the emotional toll of policing in small, tight-knit societies. It also highlights the significance of informal support networks, cultural values, and adaptive coping mechanisms in mediating the impact of work-related stressors on officers’ well-being. Notably, data suggest that RSIPF work-life balance, wellness and workplace structures are highly gendered. These findings offer insights that can inform the development of more effective support mechanisms and policies aimed at enhancing the holistic wellbeing of police officers. They further substantiate the need for greater formal support systems within the RSIPF to assist employees with managing their work-life balance.

Santa María Academy: Shaping the Heroes of Today with Tomorrow's Technology

Santa María Academy has successfully integrated advanced technology into its educational framework to enhance the learning experience of its students, preparing them for future careers in law enforcement and the military. The academy's innovative approach includes personalized coaching, interactive resources, and smart tools that cater to individual student needs. By leveraging artificial intelligence and real-time performance monitoring, Santa María Academy has significantly improved student outcomes, motivation, and engagement. This case study explores the key elements of their success, including the implementation of personalized learning plans, interactive podcasts, a smart syllabus, and a real-time performance dashboard. The academy's model serves as a benchmark for educational institutions aiming to merge traditional values with cutting-edge technology to produce well-rounded and highly skilled graduates.

Compensation to Ex-Wives for Domestic Violence in Indonesia

This paper examines divorce lawsuits caused by domestic violence committed by husbands against wives, focusing on the rights of women as victims. In such cases, wives can file for divorce and demand compensation for the physical and psychological harm they have suffered. The study employs a qualitative approach with an analytical descriptive method, using the library method to gather and analyze both primary and secondary literature, including legal documents, laws, scientific articles, and case reports. The research aims to identify patterns, challenges, and solutions related to legal protection for victims of domestic violence in divorce proceedings. The findings reveal that while there are legal provisions for compensation, significant challenges remain, such as social stigma, economic dependence, and limited access to legal resources, which complicate women's ability to claim their rights. Additionally, societal attitudes and gaps in law enforcement further hinder the realization of justice for victims. The study concludes that public awareness campaigns and stronger advocacy are essential to empowering women and ensuring their rights are protected throughout the divorce process. It also emphasizes the need for stricter law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable and provide justice for victims. This research contributes to improving legal and social frameworks for the protection of women facing domestic violence.

Effectiveness of Legal Protection for Whistleblowers in Corruption Cases in Indonesia

Combating corruption is a crucial priority for Indonesia, which strives to improve the quality of governance and institutional integrity. Whistleblowers play a vital role in uncovering corrupt practices, often serving as the initial source of information that reveals systemic and organized corruption. However, whistleblowers face significant risks, including intimidation and retaliatory actions. Effective legal protection is essential to shield them from these risks and encourage the public to report corruption. This study aims to review the effectiveness of legal protections for whistleblowers under Indonesian legislation and explore measures that can be enhanced to ensure their safety and well-being. Utilizing a literature review method, this research finds that although regulations exist to protect whistleblowers, their implementation remains inadequate. Obstacles such as lack of legal awareness, insufficient resources in law enforcement agencies, and a culture of fear of retaliation hinder optimal protection. Specific legal reforms, increased capacity of law enforcement agencies, and education and cultural changes that support whistleblowers are needed to improve the effectiveness of protection. Strengthening legal protections will better motivate whistleblowers to report corruption, supporting creating a more transparent and accountable government.

“We're tired of this Weber guy!”—Force experts, police reforms, and the violence of standardization

AbstractSince the mid‐2000s, the use‐of‐force continuum—a global standard for providing law enforcement with guidelines on the proportionate use of force—has been central in Turkish police training and reporting practices. Liberal police accountability tools, like the use‐of‐force continuum, rely on standardization to prevent police violence. Yet these techniques still result in maimed bodies and psyches and police impunity. Rather than taking the standardization of police force simply as a failed project, a sham, or a mere techno‐fix, I examine how powerful actors like police align with such standards and how they start thinking and acting through them while repurposing them. Drawing on 18 months of fieldwork between 2015 and 2017 among the Turkish National Police, I show how the transnational standardization of police force has in fact enabled police in Turkey to redefine and ultimately reclaim the violence they are professionalized in as what I call “force experts.” Force defies standardization in both theory and practice; however, what sanctions police violence now is not just technical standardization but the expert framing of the democratically reformed police force. This is the violence of standardization, especially in contexts where governments retool reforms to criminalize suspect Others whom they perceive as a “threat” to their rule.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE MANAGEMENT: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

This systematic review, based on 37 articles, explores the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in criminal justice, focusing on its applications in predictive policing, judicial risk assessments, and surveillance, as well as the associated ethical and regulatory challenges. AI has demonstrated substantial potential for improving efficiency and accuracy in criminal justice systems, from optimizing law enforcement resource allocation to providing data-driven risk assessments that support judicial decisions. However, the review identifies significant ethical issues, especially related to algorithmic bias, which can perpetuate existing societal inequalities and disproportionately affect marginalized communities. Concerns around transparency and accountability are prevalent, as the "black-box" nature of many AI algorithms complicates public understanding and trust in AI-driven outcomes. Surveillance tools, including facial recognition and behavioral analysis, enhance real-time threat detection but raise privacy and civil rights concerns, highlighting the need for regulatory oversight. Gaps in legal frameworks suggest the urgency for standardized policies that address data privacy, algorithmic fairness, and accountability in AI applications. The findings underscore that interdisciplinary collaboration, transparent practices, and comprehensive regulatory measures are essential to responsibly integrate AI into criminal justice, balancing technological advancements with justice, equity, and public trust.

Harnessing Digital Strategies to Combat Cryptocurrency-Enabled Crimes: Addressing Money Laundering, Illicit Trade, and Cyber Threats

Purpose: This research explores how advanced digital strategies can be harnessed to combat cryptocurrency-enabled crimes, focusing on the use of blockchain analysis, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and enhanced regulatory frameworks to detect, trace, and prevent illegal transactions on cryptocurrency platforms. Materials and Method: The study examines the challenges law enforcement and regulatory bodies face due to the pseudonymous nature of cryptocurrencies and their cross-border complexities. It analyses emerging digital tools that facilitate the de-anonymization of transactions and enable real-time monitoring of suspicious activities. Case studies from recent high-profile cryptocurrency crimes, such as the Silk Road shutdown and recent ransomware attacks, are utilized to highlight the effectiveness of these digital strategies. Findings: The findings indicate that a multi-layered approach, which combines technological innovations with global regulatory efforts, is essential for mitigating risks associated with cryptocurrency as a facilitator of cybercrime. Advanced analytics and regulatory techniques are identified as key resources for detecting and preventing illicit activities. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: The research demonstrates practical implications for law enforcement agencies in developing strategies that integrate advanced digital tools to improve their capabilities to manage and investigate cryptocurrency-related crimes. From a policy perspective, the study highlights the importance of creating adaptive regulatory frameworks that can evolve alongside cryptocurrency technology to effectively address the unique challenges it presents in combating cybercrime.

Does Civil Forfeiture Fight Crime? Evidence From New Mexico

This study examined civil forfeiture's impact on crime rates. Proponents of civil forfeiture, which allows law enforcement to take and permanently keep property without a criminal conviction, claim it is an essential crime-fighting tool, particularly in the War on Drugs. Critics challenge the crime-fighting efficacy of civil forfeiture while warning the policy violates individual liberties. Previous research has associated increases in civil forfeiture with higher rates of drug arrests, but to date, few studies have examined the impact of a major civil forfeiture reform. Using a 9-year panel of monthly crime rates, this study measured the impact on crime of legislation that eliminated civil forfeiture in New Mexico. This study did not find sufficient evidence to conclude civil forfeiture effectively fights crime. Specifically, when New Mexico eliminated the policy, crime rates did not worsen compared to control states. These findings hold important implications informing the policy debate surrounding civil forfeiture.

Regulation Act of Torture in Criminal Code: Opportunity and Challenge to Improve Human Rights Situation in Indonesia

This research aims to analyze the opportunities and challenges with regulating the criminal act of torture in Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP). The provisions regarding the criminal act of torture in the Criminal Code certainly open up opportunities in efforts to eliminate the practice of torture in Indonesia. The provisions of Article 530 of the current Criminal Code and the explanatory section stipulate that this article directly derives from the provisions in the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. On the other hand, all efforts and mechanisms to eliminate the practice of torture in Indonesia still require many steps to be taken. This research was conducted using a normative juridical method with a statutory approach. This research also provides an explanation of several gaps from previous similar studies by explaining several novel analyses, such as: (1) the application of sanctions to perpetrators must be adjusted to the provisions of international instruments, (2) revision of various articles in the Criminal Procedure Code which has the potential to perpetuate the practice of torture, and (3) the urgency to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). The conclusion of this research is an explanation that the regulation of criminal acts of torture in the provisions of the new Criminal Code needs to be appreciated, but of course it is not enough. The state must have high commitment and political will to revise the Criminal Procedure Code openly and involve the community, ratify OPCAT, implement national legal provisions, and ensure law enforcement against perpetrators.

Information Hiding and Digital Transformation: Strategies for First Information Reports (FIR) and Police Records

Throughout the last few years, it has become increasingly obvious that everything is moving from a traditional world to a digital one. In order for police organizations to remain competitive, they need to keep up with the rapid technological advancements that are taking place in order to stay ahead of the competition. The First Information Report (FIR) in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries is a legal document which provides police with information about an apparent crime which has been reported to them by the victims of crimes. It is part of the police's investigation process. The police still have a difficult time getting accurate information from victims in terms of what exactly occurred during the incident, which makes getting accurate information from them very difficult. The filing of a police report presents a wide range of challenges as far as police organizations are concerned. There is a major challenge in the investigation of crimes involving victims concealing information about critical knowledge subsets and the complexity of these sets from the police authorities. For police records to be managed effectively it requires an organisational transformation that is driven by well-established digital strategies that offer an overall view and full transparency of both the knowledge about FIRs as well as the access to them. There is no doubt that an organization such as a police force cannot underestimate the importance of adopting the right technologies and frameworks as part of its digital transformation strategy in order to be able to meet the needs of its customers. The challenge of solving the long-standing problem of police organizations with limited resources concealing knowledge is going to be a long-term task that can be quite challenging. This paper presents several strategies and best practices which can be adopted by law enforcement organizations so that they can successfully transform digitally and achieve their goals through the implementation of these strategies and best practices.