Redes Criminais

Code:

C422

Acronym:

REDCR

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Criminology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S (since 10-02-2025 to 23-05-2025)

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://sigarra.up.pt/fdup/disciplinas_geral.formview?p_ano_lectivo=2010/2011&p_cad_codigo=MD106&p_periodo=1S
Course/CS Responsible:	Criminology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
C	37	Oficial Study Plan LC 2023	4	-	3	-

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This course explores the structure, dynamics, and impact of criminal networks in both traditional organized crime and more recent forms such as drug trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime, and human trafficking. It combines insights from criminology, sociology, economics, and network science to understand how criminal networks are formed, operate, and evolve. Students will be introduced to methods of analysing criminal networks, including social network analysis (SNA), and the role of technology in facilitating modern criminal organizations. Emphasis will be placed on network theory, law enforcement techniques, and the challenges of disrupting criminal operations.

This curricular unit aims to:

1. Present the structure and functioning of various organised criminal groups as criminal networks.


2. Explain how Social Network Analysis (SNA) could be profitably applied to the study criminal organizations.


3. Explore SNA software tools such as Social Network Visualizer, Gephi, and R for analysing criminal networks.


4. Exhaustively present and explain techniques for mapping, visualising, and interpreting the structure of criminal networks.


5. Critically discuss the strengths and limitations of SNA in addressing complex criminal phenomena.


6. Analyse case studies of organized crime, terrorism, and cybercrime networks.

 

Learning outcomes and competences

After having completed this curricular unit, students should be able to:

1. Understand the structure and functioning of various organised criminal groups as criminal networks.


2. Gain a comprehensive understanding of Social Network Analysis (SNA) and its relevance to criminology and to the study criminal organizations.


3. Critically evaluate the strategies used by criminal networks to evade law enforcement.


4. Develop skills in SNA software tools such as Social Network Visualizer, Gephi, and R for analysing criminal networks.


5. Dominate techniques for mapping, visualising, and interpreting the structure of criminal networks.


6. Explore how SNA informs law enforcement strategies for dismantling criminal organizations.


7. Critically assess the strengths and limitations of SNA in addressing complex criminal phenomena.


8. Analyse cases of organized crime, terrorism, and cybercrime networks.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Not existent.

Program

1. Introduction

2. Networks in Criminology

3. Antisocial behaviour in a context of strategic interdependencies

   3.1. Decison theory and Game theory in a criminal context
   3.2. Coalition theory applied to criminal context

4. Methodology - Social Network Analysis (SNA) in Criminology

   4.1. Data collection and preparation for SNA
   4.2. Sociograms and graphical network representation
   4.3. Cohesion and groups
   4.4. Hierarchy and centrality
   4.5. Positions, functions, and roles
   4.6. Equivalence
   4.7.Two-mode data
   4.8. Critical discussion about criminal network analysis

5. Temporal dynamics of criminal networks

6. Strengths and vulnerabilities of networks and disruption

7. Emerging and already actual topics in criminal networks

   7.1. Future directions in network analysis and crime: Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and big data
   7.2. Cybercrime
   7.3. Challenges for law enforcement

8. Case-studies with applications using software

Mandatory literature

David Bright; Organised crime and law enforcement. ISBN: 978-1-138-69711-9
Carlo Morselli; Inside criminal networks. ISBN: 978-0-387-09525-7
Douglas G. Baird; Game theory and the law. ISBN: 0-674-34111-2
Pedro Basto de Sousa; Análise de redes de crime organizado
Carlo Morselli (ed.); Crime and Networks, Routledge, 2014. ISBN: 978-0-415-71050-3

Complementary Bibliography

Dixit, A. & Nalebuff, B.; The Art of Strategy: A Game Theorist’s Guide to Success in Business and Life, W.W. Norton Publishing, 2010
Vincenzo Ruggiero; Organised crime and terrorist networks. ISBN: 978-0-367-78441-6
Pedro Basto de Sousa; Análise de redes criminais e neutralização da cibercriminalidade organizada

Comments from the literature

In addition to the bibliography presented here, students will be confronted with scientific articles that deal with more specific aspects of the curricular unit's program.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The lectures will consist of theoretical-practical classes. These begin with a theoretical exposition of the teacher, that is followed by debate with students promoting their critical capacity. Students will actively participate in the learning process under the guidance of the teachers.

The students’ assessment is based on distributed evaluation without a final written exam.

Software

Gephi
Social Network Visualizer

keywords

Social sciences > Economics
Social sciences > Juridical sciences

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	57,00
Frequência das aulas	24,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Cf. General regulation on students’ evaluation.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade = Test grade

Examinations or Special Assignments

N.A.

Internship work/project

N.A.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Cf. General regulation on students’ evaluation.

Classification improvement

Cf. General regulation on students’ evaluation.

Observations

Additional elements for supporting classes will be placed in the site of the curricular unit at Moodle.