Skip to main content
Article
Exploring the crime of identity theft: Prevalence, clearance rates, and victim/offender characteristics
Journal of Criminal Justice
  • Stuart F. H. Allison, University of South Florida
  • Amie M. Schuck, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Kim Michelle Lersch, University of South Florida
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2005
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2004.10.007
Abstract

Although the crime of identity theft has garnered a great deal of media attention, relatively little empirical research existed on the prevalence of the crime, its clearance rate by arrest, or the demographic characteristics of the victims and the identifiable offenders. The purpose of this article is to expand the knowledge of this growing crime. Using data from a large municipal police department located in Florida as a database, the findings suggested that the number of reported incidents of identity theft appeared to be growing at a greater rate than other theft-related offenses and the clearance rate for identity theft appeared to be declining. The typical apprehended offender was African American, female, unemployed, working alone, and was unknown to the victims, who tended to be White and male.

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Journal of Criminal Justice, v. 33, issue 1, p. 19-29

Citation Information
Stuart F. H. Allison, Amie M. Schuck and Kim Michelle Lersch. "Exploring the crime of identity theft: Prevalence, clearance rates, and victim/offender characteristics" Journal of Criminal Justice Vol. 33 Iss. 1 (2005) p. 19 - 29
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/kim-lersch/17/