Introduction to Social Network Analysis (SNA) as an investigative tool

Abstract

Social behavior is brought about mainly through social ties and connections. Our contacts with other people shape our view of the world, reinforce our identity, and the interactions provide us with all kinds of opportunities and resources to get things done. The social capital associated with networks is also one of the primary ways facilitating crime. Therefore, the systematic analysis of criminal networks is considered a viable means to gain a more thorough understanding of criminal behavior. This paper is a general introduction to social network analysis (SNA) as an analytical tool for the study of adversary networks. The paper reviews some theoretical and key concepts, highlights functional applications, and presents a tentative protocol for data handling and coding. The discussion deals with some methodological issues, challenges and future developments in the field.

Bridging the Gap between Collection and Analysis: Intelligence Information Processing and Data Governance

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Bosses, Soldiers and Rice Grains. Vietnamese Criminal Networks and Criminal Activities in the Czech Republic

“…They should therefore be studied as special kinds of social networks, more specifically, as criminal networks. To support this idea, there emerged a growing number of studies that provide empirical evidence that social network analyses could be used to get a better understanding of organised crime (Lupsha 1983;Reuter 1986;Sparrow 1991;Canter & Alison 2000;Coles 2001;Klerks 2001;williams 2001;Lemieux 2003;Raab & Milward 2003;Chatterjee 2006;Morselli et al 2006;Morselli 2009;Schwartz & Rouselle 2009;van der Hulst 2009;Spapens 2010;bouchard & Amiraut 2013, pp. 119-22;Hobbs 2013;Duijn et al 2014).…”

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