While US authorities occasionally charge a student or computer consultant with hacking or infecting a public or private computer system with a virus, police officials and private security professionals concur that few of these cases ever result in prosecution. The chances of being prosecuted for hacking in the United States are one in 10,000; the likelihood of going to prison is even less. However, both the US Congress and State governments are studying legislation that provides for tougher sanctions against hackers and other transgressors. The article discusses aspects of cyber crime in America in the following aspects: investigation, prosecution, trial, restitution, legislation, ethics, judiciary, training, perception, regulation, and international. Hacking and viruses are by-products of the information technology revolution, and new approaches are needed to address the threat of cyber crime. The American experience should serve to illustrate the limitations of the nation-state and the need for international cooperation.