Critical Factors Affecting Identity Theft and Identity Fraud in the United States

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

Utica College will use their 2009 Congressionally Selected Award to empirically address the problem and forms of identity theft and identity fraud committed through the employment of non-technological techniques. This project represents a nationwide analysis of critical non-technological factors that affect the perpetration of identity theft in the United States. The project will result in the identification and analysis of key characteristics found to be prevalent in the commission of identity theft and the application of synthesized information to the improvement of efforts to control and prevent identity theft. This project is dedicated to the analysis of the scope of this problem, the examination and analysis of characteristics of offenders who have successfully used non-technological methods and the systemic vulnerabilities that enable these offenders to ply their criminal trade.

NCA/NCF