Crime fighting methodologies

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Technology is always moving forward in its endeavors, especially when it comes to crime fighting and forensic investigation. It is difficult to anticipate the future. It cannot be done without making errors. No one knows what the future will hold, and the best a criminologist can do is make an educated guess based on trends. Criminologists try to determine future crime trends and forecasts. This is done by projecting demographic changes, determining cultural shifts, and possible social changes. It is important that crime is predicated as accurately as possible in order to prevent and/or diminish future crimes. For example, the internet is the source used by many for bank transactions and other financial matters. It would behoove criminologists to recognize that more crimes would happen electronically to obtain personal financial information, and therefore, more identity theft cases. Also, the baby boomer age is now the elderly. This group of people is becoming senile and did not grow up with internet access. It would make sense that they would be the most vulnerable to internet crimes because they are the most unsuspecting. Therefore, it is wise to help the elderly understand the dangers in giving out certain personal information such as bank account numbers and their social security numbers (Schafer, 2009).

In the book, The Information Age: An Anthology on Its Impacts and Consequences, David Alberts and Daniel Papp wrote that:
"Complexity and change are the two defining characteristics of the Information Age. Our successes as individuals, families, organizations, communities, and societies will depend more than ever upon our abilities to adapt, in near real-time, to deal with increasingly complex and dynamic situations which will be characteristic of the Information Age" (Alberts & Papp, 1997, p. xvii).

This is also true when it comes to ...