Call: EUSN 2021 Session - Criminal Networks

The importance of social networks for analysing and explaining criminal behaviour has been widely recognized. A wide range of illegal activities, such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, or terrorism requires coordination among offenders to be successfully performed. It is not surprising, therefore, that the network perspective on crime has recently gained popularity, both among academics and law enforcement practitioners, as it captures the essence of such activities. However, the study of criminal networks is challenging. Data collection is difficult in situations where subjects themselves aim not to be detected. Gathering first-hand evidence on such phenomena is therefore extremely difficult, and in some cases dangerous. Scholars have thus relied on police data, such as arrests, or investigative evidence, such as electronic surveillance or phone records, to build an empirical base for their analysis. A second challenge is methodological, i.e. matching/developing the right statistical models based on the specificities of criminal networks to adequately test criminological theories, allowing to move beyond descriptive network measures. 

This session is dedicated to innovative research at the intersection of network analysis and criminology. We welcome a wide range of submissions focused on criminal networks, including methodological, theoretical, and empirical studies. Topics may include:

• collection of criminal network data; 

• testing theories of co-offending; 

• victimizations and violence using network data; 

• case studies of specific criminal groups; 

• statistical modelling tailored to the complexities of criminal network data 

We invite not only applied and methodological researchers interested in criminal network analysis, but also law enforcement professionals. This session aims to bridge disciplines, to inspire discussion and collaboration.