Massachusetts Attorney General Coakley, Statewide Law Enforcement Partner To Develop Cyber Crime Plan

Meeting follows in-depth survey by the Attorney General’s Office to address the severity of cyber crime and the various challenges facing law enforcement

June 15, 2007 -- BOSTON – Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley gathered with law enforcement officials from around the state Wednesday to map out a comprehensive, statewide approach to cyber crime in an effort to ensure that Massachusetts is a model for the country in preventing, investigating and prosecuting crimes with an electronic or cyber component.

"In the ever-evolving era of cyber crime, the law enforcement community is continually faced with forensic, investigative and prosecutorial challenges that require heightened awareness and training," Attorney General Martha Coakley said. "I have asked law enforcement leaders for their input and support in assisting our office to create a coordinated approach to fighting cyber crime across this state. The results of this survey, coupled with the ideas and research discussed by law enforcement at this planning session have brought us one step closer to developing the first-ever strategic approach to fighting cyber crime in Massachusetts."

Wednesday's meeting, held at the Attorney General's Office, followed a survey circulated to law enforcement in April from Attorney General Coakley. The Attorney General's Office compiled responses to the 72-question, in-depth survey from police agencies covering 55 percent of the state's population, including State and local police, and the District Attorney's Offices. The questionnaire asked law enforcement for information about their agency’s experience responding to crimes with a cyber component. Some of the findings included:

* Of the 150 respondents, 13,184 investigations with a cyber component were conducted in 2006
* Fraud, criminal threats and forgery were the most investigated crimes that involved cyber issues. Those were followed by larceny, drugs, and online child solicitation and pornography
* More than 900 forensic exams were reportedly conducted by Massachusetts law enforcement in 2006
* Two of the legal impediments law enforcement face include the need for administrative subpoenas and increased penalties for cyber crimes

Representatives from the following agencies participated in Wednesday’s strategic planning session:

* Col. Mark Delaney, Lt. Col. Stephen Matthews, Lt. Michael Kalmbach and Major Dermot Quinn, Det. Lt. Dennis Brooks, all of Massachusetts State Police
* LaDonna Hatton, Undersecretary of Public Safety for Forensic Sciences
* Middlesex District Attorney Gerard T. Leone Jr.
* Representatives from the District Attorney’s Offices in Berkshire, Bristol, Cape and Islands, Essex, Franklin and Hampshire, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Worcester and Suffolk Counties
* John F. Cremens, Jr., First Deputy Commissioner of Probation
* Captain Mark Morgan with the Brookline Police Department
* Lt. John J. McLean of Medford Police and a member of the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Cyber Crime Initiative is being spearheaded by Assistant Attorneys General Nora Mann, chief of the Community Information and Education Division and Tom Ralph, chief of the Cyber Crime Division.

Source: Massachusetts Attorney General

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •