Details

Date:
August 9, 2017

Time:
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Location:

Registration:

Click here: The Changing Nature of Crime and Criminal Investigations

The crime landscape in our country is changing. While burglaries and auto thefts have plummeted in recent years, cases of identity theft are on the rise. Street gangs, which traditionally funded their operations through narcotics sales, are increasingly turning to cyber scams such as credit card fraud and fraudulent tax refunds and the "dark web" is rapidly becoming a preferred marketplace for a variety of criminal transactions. How these types of crimes are being carried out, and what police agencies need to do to combat them, will be the focus of our meeting.

Researchers now estimate that the total global revenue from illegal drug sales on dark web "cryptomarkets" is between $12 and $21.1 million per month - and illegal drugs account for only a portion of criminal activity on the dark web. It also provides individuals access to guns and other weapons, while simultaneously creating space for illegal activity like contract killing, child exploitation, and terrorism. The proliferation of the internet for criminal purposes greatly expands the reach of criminal organizations beyond a physical street corner.

This meeting will bring together law enforcement leaders to discuss how these crime trends impact policing, such as how "dark web" markets for illegal drugs contribute to the current opioid crisis and how boots-on-the-ground investigations are no longer sufficient. Today, investigators must also know how to explore and utilize many different forms of digital evidence to identify perpetrators and solve cases.

We will discuss how agencies are enhancing their investigative capacities through the use of software, tools, and the hiring of specialized staff who have the analytical skills to address these challenges. Fingerprints and DNA evidence are not enough - investigators must know how to acquire and analyze digital evidence to support their cases. Participants will discuss their promising practices for adapting to this new environment. Investigators have shown creativity and determined ways to use society's increased reliance on technology to their advantage. For example, they are leveraging the ubiquity of household and personal devices like smart speakers (e.g., Amazon Echo's "Alexa") and Fitbit to harness data and close cases.

Here are the details for the upcoming meeting:

Location

Date/Time

Reception: Tuesday, August 8th, 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Conference: Wednesday, August 9th, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The Newseum

• Continental breakfast: 7:30 - 8:00 AM
• Meeting: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
• Lunch will be provided

Cost

There is no charge to attend this meeting, but participants must register in advance. Participants must cover their own travel and lodging costs. PERF is securing a block of rooms a nearby hotel. Once those arrangements are finalized, hotel details will be added to this page and emailed to individuals who have already registered.

Hotel Rooms

Rooms are available at the Willard Hotel for $179/night plus tax. To reserve a room at this rate, please click on this link or call (888) 424-6835 and reference the 3-letter group code "ERF." The link will open to the Willard InterContinental Reservations webpage. Click the "Book Now" icon at the top right-hand side of the page, and plug in the contracted dates of August 8-9, 2017 to make your reservation. Reservations must be made by Monday, July 31st, 2017.

Registration

Registration is limited to PERF members and their designees. Please click on the link below to register.

The Changing Nature of Crime and Criminal Investigations