Example forensic science dissertation topic 7:

Contamination: An evaluation of the efficacy of USB devices and remote monitoring software in the management of sex offenders’ computer use.

Recent judgements in the UK have determined that sexual offenders have a human right to access the Internet, and that offenders being managed within the community may use computers at home. Accordingly, this changes the nature of how police officers manage offenders’ computer use. Currently, police use remote software and USB devices to search for suspicious search terms and Internet use. The dissertation evaluates their effectiveness, particularly with regard to the cross-contamination of USB devices that may be carried from one offender’s computer to another offender’s computer. This study will include working with existing police and probation officers, as well as several offenders, in addition to forensic computer analysis.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Chan, S., Khader, M., Ang, J., Tan, E., Khoo, K. and Chin, J. (2012). ‘Understanding ‘happy slapping”. International Journal of Police Science & Management, vol. 14(1), pp. 42-57.
• Law, F.Y., Chow, K.P., Lai, P.K., Tse, H.K. and Tse, K.W. (2010). ‘Digital child pornography: Offender or not offender’. In, Martin, V.G., Garcia-Ruiz, M.A. and Edwards, A. (eds), Technology for facilitating humanity and combating social deviations: Interdisciplinary perspectives, Hershey, PA: IGI Global, pp. 119.
• Mann, R.E., Ware, J. and Fernandez, Y.M. (2011). ‘Managing sexual offender treatment programs’. In, Boer, D.P, Eher, R., Craig, L.A., Miner, M.H. and Pf�fflin, F. (eds), International perspectives on the assessment and treatment of sexual offenders: Theory, practice and research, Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 331-354.