RESEARCH TITLE: Understanding Accomplice Selection Using Network Science

Abstract: My research aims to understand the accomplice selection process by studying co-offending networks. In particular, I assess if co-offending networks display some degree of transitivity. That is: if a person tends to commit new crimes with the accomplices of former accomplices. I also test theories about accomplice selection through a temporal analysis of co-offending networks. Lastly, I try to shed light on the dark figure of crime by revealing hidden co-offending relationships between known offenders using link prediction algorithms.

About Alberto – click here to [read more] I am a lawyer turned into a crime scientist. Here at UCL, I have been learning how to apply networks science tools to prevent crime.

Before joining UCL, I served as a Senior Policy Advisor at Colombia’s Prosecution Service (CPS). In this role, I worked on multiple projects aimed at improving organised crime disruption. A significant accomplishment as a policy advisor was co-designing a methodology to assess the results delivered by the CPS against organised crime groups (OCGs).

I also consulted for the World Bank’s Public Governance Practice. In this role, I assisted Colombia’s Judiciary in finding solutions to reduce the backlog of cases in courts. I also led a consultancy team to design a management system to help courts implement a judicial reform that changed legal proceedings.

I hold a Law degree (LLB equivalent) and a master’s degree in Law from Universidad de los Andes (Colombia), and a master’s degree in the Science of Law from Stanford University (USA). [/read]

Graduate teaching assistant in: Organised Crime, Intelligence Gathering and Analysis, Designing and Doing Research