Positive Technological Impacts on Law Enforcement
New and emerging technologies are now playing an extremely crucial role in the day to day work of field agents, equipping them with specialized equipment and investigative tools that have the potential to make them better informed, more effective, and a lot safer.
Law enforcement usage of computer technology has expanded tremendously over the past two decades. Given the increasing power and diminishing costs of technology, the extensive growth in mobile communications infrastructure, and the expansion of new applications available, computer usage continues to increase in law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.
According to the 2007 LEMAS (Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics) survey lately released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, and local police departments report using computers for a mixture of law enforcement functions, including records like 79 percent management, 60 percent crime investigation, 50 percent information sharing, and 49 percent dispatch. All larger police departments reported using computers for crime breakdown and crime mapping (100 percent). Agencies serving populations of 25,000 or more reported having access to Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) and using infield computers (for example, mobile digital computers, terminals, and laptops). In addition to the broad availability of infield computers, agents also had access to an expanding collection of information including 88 percent vehicle records, 81 percent driving records, 81 percent warrants, 66 percent protection orders, 60 percent inter-agency information sharing, 60 percent calls-for-service history, and 50 percent criminal history records. Police departments of all sizes were much more likely to use electronic ways to broadcast criminal incident reports to headquarters, with 60 percent of all agencies in 2007, compared to just 38 percent in 2003. Automating the transmission of incident reports is a critical element in building sensible, accurate information and information-sharing capabilities.
In addition to infield computers, two-thirds of police departments throughout the nation reported regularly using video cameras, and well over half reported using video cameras in patrol cars. The deployment of in-car video cameras has increased substantially since the year 2000 in agencies of all sizes.
Law enforcement usage of computer technology has expanded tremendously over the past two decades. Given the increasing power and diminishing costs of technology, the extensive growth in mobile communications infrastructure, and the expansion of new applications available, computer usage continues to increase in law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.
According to the 2007 LEMAS (Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics) survey lately released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, and local police departments report using computers for a mixture of law enforcement functions, including records like 79 percent management, 60 percent crime investigation, 50 percent information sharing, and 49 percent dispatch. All larger police departments reported using computers for crime breakdown and crime mapping (100 percent). Agencies serving populations of 25,000 or more reported having access to Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) and using infield computers (for example, mobile digital computers, terminals, and laptops). In addition to the broad availability of infield computers, agents also had access to an expanding collection of information including 88 percent vehicle records, 81 percent driving records, 81 percent warrants, 66 percent protection orders, 60 percent inter-agency information sharing, 60 percent calls-for-service history, and 50 percent criminal history records. Police departments of all sizes were much more likely to use electronic ways to broadcast criminal incident reports to headquarters, with 60 percent of all agencies in 2007, compared to just 38 percent in 2003. Automating the transmission of incident reports is a critical element in building sensible, accurate information and information-sharing capabilities.
In addition to infield computers, two-thirds of police departments throughout the nation reported regularly using video cameras, and well over half reported using video cameras in patrol cars. The deployment of in-car video cameras has increased substantially since the year 2000 in agencies of all sizes.
Negative Technological Impacts On Law Enforcement
As we gain improvements in technology, we are facing negative effects. Every time a new product is developed people immediately discover excellent and clever ways to utilize it; therefore law enforcement officers have to be very cautious when they receive technological advances. Learning how to properly use modern, advanced tools is a very pertinent skill for the officers to have. When criminals gain possession of these inventions, conflict can arise, and caution must be taken by officers. All new advancements are crucial to the protection of agents and local citizens. Technology is growing and creating more relationships between law enforcement and the community. The explosive growth and technological complexity of smart phones, and the rising popularity of social networking sites have empowered the general public and raised expectations concerning services provided by law enforcement, the ability to communicate with police, and the clearness of the organization. Technology offers crucial benefits to our society, but can be used in negative ways as well. All officers should take caution when gaining possession of these new advancements, and utilize them to their full ability in the situation of protection.