ASU professor comments on police use of social media to find suspects
Police in Huntington Beach, Calif. are taking to the internet to track down those responsible for criminal damage and other acts following a riot after the US Open of Surfing on July 28. Scott Decker, a foundation professor and director of the ASU School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, spoke with A. Martinez on KPCC's "Take Two" radio show, Thursday, Aug. 1.
Decker is the co-author of the article "From ‘What the F#@% is a Facebook?’ to ‘Who Doesn’t Use Facebook?’: The role of criminal lifestyles in the adoption and use of the Internet," published online in the journal S ocial Science Research. He said evidence from social media and the internet is used in hundreds of cases across the country.
"One of the important things to keep in mind about the use of social media by law enforcement is that most offenders fall in the age range of 15- to 24-years-old, and that's also the segement of the population most likely to use social media and technology, and most likely to be in communication with their friends," Decker said. "So they're a real prime group for law enforcement to pay attention to."
Decker said the use of what is found on social media alone may not be enough to arrest suspects, but it allows police to generate probable cause and conduct searches and interrogations.
"Multiple pieces of credible evidence from different sources are the best way for law enforcement to make a case," noted Decker.