Cybercrime: What Can A Governor Do?

The state and local officials that comprise the homeland security and public safety community must confront all hazards to the public, including cybercrime. Yet many of those charged with investigating and prosecuting cyber criminals lack the technical expertise, resources, and overall capacity to do so. Because of such limitations, state and local agencies typically can only address the smallest incidents on a piecemeal basis. And solely relying on federal criminal investigators is not a sustainable solution, as they typically investigate only the most serious cybercrimes. That leaves a large set of victims without recourse. On December 11, 2018, the National Governors Association (NGA) convened over two dozen experts on cybercrime to explore how states can build capacity for cybercrime enforcement at the state and local levels.