Cryptocurrency: Changing the Game For State and Local Law Enforcement
Abstract
Criminals have increasingly embraced cryptocurrency, accounting for its explosion. This thesis traces cryptocurrency's growth and the government's failure to combat it and provides a guide for state and local law enforcement to identify and curb illegal cryptocurrency. It highlights cryptocurrency's key exploitable characteristics and recommends agency policies and procedures, pinpointing some drivers of organizational change to accelerate state and local law enforcement agencies' preparedness. The thesis offers cases to demonstrate how law enforcement mastered DNA analysis by creating policies and procedures, increasing knowledge, and acknowledging legal precedents. The work reveals a critical need for cryptocurrency training and education at state and local levels. Identifying cryptocurrency in criminal investigations and populating shared databases is a pressing need, so leveraging federal partnerships and educational institutions for training should advance efforts. Collaborating with private companies on cryptocurrency identification software will also change the game. In sum, sharing intelligence, performing community outreach for prevention, and reexamining cold cases through new cryptocurrency intelligence may stem these crimes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1213014
Entities
People
- Joseph F. Jr Sembler
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School