Criminal and Routine Activities in Online Settings: Gangs, Offenders, and the Internet

Criminal Careers in Cyberspace: Examining Website Failure within Child Exploitation Networks

“…Despite the challenges of research in online settings, cybercrime research also provides unique opportunities for innovations in research designs and contributions to the field as a whole. For example, websites and online discussion forums with illegal material emerged as a new object of criminological inquiry providing unique insights into illegal markets operating online (Holt, 2012(Holt, , 2013, how online subcultures around deviant interests form, evolve, and disappear (Decary-Hetu & Dupont, 2012;Holt, 2007;Jordan & Taylor, 1998), how the logic deterrence may apply online (Maimon et al, 2014), or how the existence of the Web changes the practices of criminal networks and groups such as street gangs (Moule, Pyrooz, & Decker, 2014;Pyrooz, Decker, & Moule, 2015). In some cases, like ours, longitudinal data can be collected in real time, as opposed to retroactively.…”

Tweets, Gangs, and Guns: A Snapshot of Gang Communications in Detroit

“…Several recent studies have investigated adolescents’ use of social media to promote gang behaviors and activities, particularly in urban areas (Decary-Hetu & Morselli, 2011; Patton et al, 2013; Pelfry & Webber, 2012; Pyrooz et al, 2013; Sela-Shayovitz, 2012). For example, the National Gang Intelligence Center (2014) reported that gangs are using technology to increase street level drug distribution and trafficking, and tens of thousands of gang members currently use such social media as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter to communicate, recruit, and form new gang alliances nationally and internationally.…”

“…Increased access to technology and the proliferation of social networking sites—among them, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram—have radically transformed social interactions, particularly for low-income teenagers and emerging adults living in violent urban neighborhoods (Decary-Hetu & Morselli, 2011; Pyrooz, Decker, & Moule, 2013). These individuals now have a social, and sometimes very public, space to cope with traumatic events; communicate thoughts and feelings; share information; and curate their identity.…”

“…Recent research suggests that gang members spend an estimated 20 to 50 more hours on social networking sites each week than do their non-gang counterparts. Similar to their non-gang counterparts, many individuals involved in gangs use social media to discuss daily events, share images and videos, and discuss and provide personal information (Pyrooz et al, 2013). However, online communication among gang members may also include violence, substance use, and criminal behavior (Goggin, 2012; Maratea & Kavanaugh, 2012; Moule, Decker, & Pyrooz, 2013; Moule, Pyrooz, & Decker, 2014; Patton, Eschmann, & Butler, 2013; Sela-Shayovitz, 2012).…”

“…There is mounting concern that neighborhood violence and crime in cities like Detroit, Michigan are escalated via social media (Pyrooz et al, 2013). The present study seeks to determine the prevalence of violence and crime-related communications among gang involved individuals in Detroit.…”