Advanced Certificate in Transnational Organized Crime Studies

The Advanced Certificate in Transnational and Cyber Organized Crime Studies (ACTOCS) offers advanced instruction on the nature, dynamics, causes, and control of those crime phenomena that pose a challenge to more than one country and call for international cooperation. It examines the nature and etiology of established as well as emerging transnational and cyber organized criminal groups and criminal activities. The focus is on illegal cross-border activities including drug trafficking, arms smuggling, wildlife crime and human trafficking; transnational predatory crimes such as serial burglary; kidnapping, extortion, and financial fraud; and networks of offenders involved in these crimes and their mobility,  This advanced certificate critically examines factors that facilitate and shape transnational crimes, including technology, and identifies the clearnet and darknet spaces where cyber organized criminal groups operate, as well as examines structures, tactics, and methods of operation of members of these groups.  

To enhance cross-border cybersecurity and improve prevention strategies, the certificate critically analyzes transnational and cyber organized crimes from various theoretical perspectives. It also delves into the complex process of preventing and responding to transnational and cyber organized crime.  It introduces students to the legal and institutional frameworks and measures used to facilitate international cooperation, including mutual legal assistance, extradition, informal and formal law enforcement cooperation, and joint investigation. Relevant procedural issues that arise in cases of transnational and cyber organized crime, such as jurisdiction, the use of special investigative techniques, tracing and freezing of illicit assets, and confiscation of criminal proceeds are also explored.