Mechanisms of co-offending networks' formation

As research have shown, a substantial number of crimes are committed by multiple offenders rather than individuals acting alone. Scholars have explored how co-offending patterns are influenced by factors like crime type, sex, and age of offenders. However, limited attention has been given to understanding the underlying mechanisms that drive co-offending, which is the primary objective of my project. The project is designed to progress through several key steps. Firstly, it involves summarizing the quantitative characteristics of co-offending networks across different countries and research contexts. Next, I will conduct an analysis of criminal incidents in Belgium, utilizing an innovative approach that combines multiple databases, including police records, forensic data, and DNA databases. Once the data is prepared, I intend to test hypotheses concerning co-offending patterns using computational techniques like Social Network Analysis and Agent-Based Modelling. Lastly, with information about criminal networks at hand, I will compare them to non-criminal networks, such as friendship networks or business partnerships. This comparison has the potential to shed light on the underlying mechanisms driving the formation of criminal networks. By delving into these aspects, my project aims to contribute significantly to the understanding of co-offending behaviour and its associated factors.