Introduction
Law enforcement agencies have in the recent past turned to using the internet as a way of solving crimes. This has been accelerated by the increased rate of online as well as complicated crimes that are taking place. Internet use as a way of solving crime has also been hastened by the development of electronic commerce. As a result, the net became a novel field for crime and approach for organized criminal activities. The purpose of this research is to identify the vast methods of using the internet to solve crimes. Further information on possible ways of getting access to the crime information and how the obtained information can help in solving crimes will also be researched.
The Use of the Internet to Solve Crimes
Most of the Law enforcement agencies in the United States and other developed nations have their websites whose main aim is to aid in crime-solving (Tully and McKee 1). The websites act as sources of information to the public by providing them with educational materials as well as allowing them to respond to any issue about a crime that is placed on the internet. The greatest advantage of using the internet in solving crimes is because the information is usually instantly updated and the fact that so much data can be stored on a website that acts as evidence in a crime situation.
Various techniques can be used to solve crimes through the internet including; crime mapping, fingerprint comparisons, and chromatography. Fingerprint comparison is among the oldest technique that has been used to solve issues of crime. Fingerprints are used because they remain unchanged in a lifetime, each individual has a different fingerprint from the others, and the fact that finger prints have characteristic patterns. The fingerprints are detected through various laboratory methods such as the use of laser technology, use of Ninhydrin, use of gentian violet just to mention but a few. After detection, the investigators could either take a photograph or copy the print and then post them on the internet where they can be compared with the existing fingerprints of the citizens. Crime mapping is also another technique of solving crimes whereby the crime incident patterns are analyzed through the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Internet helps in crime mapping since the crime data is made public and accessible on the website (Tully and McKee 1). Crime mapping on the internet helps to solve crimes because the law offenders usually avoid such sites since they are under close supervision by law enforcers. This reduces the crime rate of the mapped area. Chromatography is yet another method of solving crimes that entail the separation of materials from a mixture through capillary action. Its use in crimes solving issues is very diverse. For example, it can be used to establish the type of pen used to write a certain letter that led to the crime. In addition to this, it can be used to detect substances that were present at the crime scene for example poisons, ignitable liquids among others. Once the substances have been established they can be placed on the internet for comparison or for the public to identify the specific kind of substance used. That way the investigators will be able to make concrete conclusions on the causes of the crime hence be able to solve it.
Examples of cases
The use of the internet to solve crimes has been practiced by most law enforcers because of its accuracy and speed. In the year 1995, the police department of Vacaville in California was the first law enforcement agency to place crime maps on the internet. This was very successful and other law enforcement agencies followed suit. Not long ago in Washington DC, a lady by the name of Chandra Levy was on an internship where she often used the internet (Dana 1). After her death, the investigators used the information she had gathered on the internet and found her body in Rock Creek Park after searching for one year. Currently, the law enforcers are taking the crime fight into cyberspace by turning it into social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to solve crimes. For example, the NSW police placed the unsolved Homicide Case Squad on Facebook and happened together around 200 supporters (Bevin 1). Crime images are also being sent through YouTube leading to the arrest of several criminals.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that the use of the internet in solving crimes has made it easy and convenient for law enforcers to handle criminal cases. The Internet has made it easy to use the aforementioned techniques of solving crimes by making the information and crime data accessible. The internet is also an effective way of gathering as much information from the public. That way the police will be fostering better public relations with the citizens. In addition, the crime case examples also depict the effectiveness of using the internet to solve crimes.
References
Bevin, Edith. NSW police turn to the internet to solve crimes. 2010. Web.
Dana, Franks. Law Enforcement Uses internet to Solve Offline Crimes. 2006. Web.
Tully, Edward and McKee, Susan. The Present and Future Use of the Internet by Law Enforcement. 2000. Web.