For Week 2: Select A Crime That Interests You And Create A 5

For Week 2select A Crime That Interests You And Create A 500 To 700 W

Choose a crime that interests you and write a 500 to 700-word paper (about 2 pages, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins and 12pt font). Your paper should identify the crime, explain what deviant acts make it illegal, discuss its history and origins, and analyze its classification in the NIBRS database. Specify whether it is a violent or property crime, whether it is a Group A or Group B crime, and if it would be considered a misdemeanor or felony in your state (include the state). Use at least two credible sources.

Paper For Above instruction

The selected crime for this paper is cyberstalking, a cybercrime that has gained prominence with the rise of digital communication platforms. Cyberstalking involves the repeated use of electronic communications to threaten, intimidate, or harass an individual, creating emotional distress and fear. Legally, cyberstalking is classified as a crime because it involves deviant acts that violate social norms and laws designed to protect individuals from harassment and harm. The deviant acts include unwanted electronic messages, threats, and invasive behaviors that transcend normal online interactions, culminating in illegal conduct when crossing certain thresholds of persistence or severity.

Historically, cyberstalking emerged in the late 20th and early 21st centuries alongside the expansion of the internet. Its roots can be traced to traditional stalking behaviors that existed before digital technology but adapted to modern communication channels such as emails, social media, and instant messaging. Legislation to address cyberstalking began to develop in the early 2000s as courts recognized the unique challenges posed by technology-enabled harassment. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and state legislatures have since codified laws to combat this form of stalking, reflecting its recognition as a serious criminal offense.

In the NIBRS (National Incident-Based Reporting System) database, cyberstalking is categorized under Group A crimes, which include all serious offense reports. Being a form of harassment and harassment-related threats, it is generally regarded as a violent crime because it involves threatening behaviors that can cause psychological harm, and in some cases, physical safety concerns. Although primarily a non-violent crime, the emotional and psychological impact qualifies it under violent crime classifications in criminal reporting systems. In many states, such as California, cyberstalking is classified as a felony due to its potential to cause significant distress and harm, and the persistence of the offending acts.

In California, a person commits the crime of cyberstalking when they willfully engage in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that seriously alarms, annoys, or harasses the individual and would cause a reasonable person to suffer substantial emotional distress. California law classifies this as a felony, especially when there are threatening communications involved or if the acts violate a court order (California Penal Code Sections 646.9 and 652.5). The severe penalties highlight the importance of addressing this crime within the criminal justice framework because it poses a threat not only to individual victims but also to public safety in digital spaces.

Research indicates that cyberstalking has become increasingly prevalent as technology advances. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), reports of cyberstalking have surged over the past decade, reflecting its rising significance as a criminal concern. Moreover, the classification of cyberstalking as a Group A crime in NIBRS emphasizes the seriousness attributed to it at the national level, aligning with its potential for emotional and physical harm. The classification as a felony in states like California is consistent with the intent to deter perpetrators and protect victims from ongoing abuse.

In conclusion, cyberstalking exemplifies how modern technology can be exploited for deviant acts that violate norms and laws designed to safeguard individuals. Its classification in the NIBRS as a Group A and often as a felony underscores its severity and societal impact. As digital communication continues to evolve, the legal system must adapt to effectively define, address, and penalize such crimes to safeguard citizens' rights and safety in cyberspace.

References

• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). (2021). Cybercrime statistics and trends. Retrieved from https://www.ic3.gov
• California Penal Code Sections 646.9 and 652.5. (2020). California Legislative Information. Retrieved from https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
• Holt, T. J., & Bossler, A. M. (2018). Cybercrime in progress: Theory and prevention. Routledge.
• McNamara, P. (2020). The evolution of cyberstalking law: From traditional stalking to cyber harassment. Journal of Criminal Law, 84(3), 245–266.
• U.S. Department of Justice. (2021). Crime in the United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
• Harrell, E., & Hjalmarsson, R. (2019). The impact of cyberstalking laws on reporting and prevalence. Journal of Cybersecurity, 5(2), 55–67.
• Wall, D. S. (2017). Cybercrime: The transformation of crime in the digital age. Routledge.
• Office for Victims of Crime. (2020). Addressing cyberstalking: Victim support and legal remedies. U.S. Department of Justice.
• National Institute of Justice. (2019). The costs and consequences of cyber harassment. NIJ Journal, 282, 4–15.
• Livingston, N. (2022). Cyberstalking and the law: Challenges and solutions. Criminal Justice Review, 47(4), 512–530.