Prompt: What is the overlap between criminal justice and cybercrime? How does this overlap relate to the other disciplines discussed in this class?

Throughout this course, one overarching point that is continually referenced is how cybersecurity is an interdisciplinary effort. Criminal justice is a major part of cybersecurity and cybercrime, with policies and laws being drawn up about cyberspace, requiring perspectives from both disciplines. Criminologists have noted that with the advent of the internet, traditional crimes have evolved to exploit cyberspace, or, in some cases, entirely new types of crime have been created. Through the internet, identity theft has been made more expedient and ransoms can now be done digitally, costing hundreds of millions of dollars. Criminals have been able to find new ways to ‘game the system’. Defining these cybercrimes is one of the monumental tasks of criminologists in the criminal justice system. For example, ransomware and its impacts. Ransom in the traditional sense involves the forced incarceration of a victim, but ransomware bars users from accessing their data on their devices, which can be fatal. Building upon this, cybercrimes that are unique to cyberspace, such as viruses and worms, must also be properly defined so courts and policymakers can make better laws and regulations regarding restrictions. Cybercrime and criminal justice overlap heavily, and this connection affects a multitude of other disciplines discussed in this class. Technology has its tendrils in all aspects of our lives, one example where one would see the overlap would be in engineering. Cybercrime affects all sorts of engineering technologies, as seen with the colonial pipeline hack, and the crippling of the gas supply on the east coast. Criminologists not only have to conduct physical, on-site investigations, but cyber forensics to see if they can track and trace potential suspects. Another overlap could be in the corporate world. White-collar cybercrime is seemingly harmless but can cause significant monetary damage. Criminologists must develop new, potent ways to better catch white-collar cybercriminals. As with most things in the information age, criminal justice also overlaps with cybersecurity and cybercrime.