Publications

Cyber criminals on trial

Russell G Smith, Peter N Grabosky and Gregor Urbas

Published in:
CJM : Criminal justice matters, no. 58, Winter 2004/05, 2005.

Abstract

Criminal cases involving cybercrime have created new challenges for prosecutors and judges. In their book 'Cyber criminals on trial' (2004), the authors examined some 240 publicly reported cases involving cybercrimes that have been determined in courts around the globe. Of these, 164 cases involved a conviction or the accused pleading guilty, and sentencing outcomes were available in respect of 139 of these. This article discusses the three principal questions addressed in the book. These are: Does cybercrime raise unique problems? Are there differences of approach between jurisdictions? And are cybercrimes treated more seriously than conventional crimes?