Law Enforcement Technology

Law Enforcement Technology

Submitted by:

Instructor

Law Enforcement Technology

Table of content

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………3

How technology has improved response to crime by law enforcement………………………3

Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………..5

Reference…………………………………………………………………………………………6

Law Enforcement Technology

Introduction

Over the past years computer technology and telecommunication technology has developed at a high speed. This has led to the integration of technology in most of the organizations and agencies like the law enforcement agencies hence improving their services. Use of technology in law enforcement has advanced much since 1990 due to advances in computer and data transmission and also graphical interfaces that are user friendly. This technology has helped law enforcement agencies a lot. This is because the law enforcement agencies are able to store large volumes of data, analyze the data effectively and share data with people outside the agencies. This technology has also helped these agencies in collecting crime data and also in

Law Enforcement Technology

achieving its mission and goals. The integration of technology in the law enforcement can also be difficult if it is not well managed and also if the technology faces resistance from the employees. This is because the workers don’t want to accept change or if they see the technology to be tiresome. Other issues that can hinder its success are privacy of the people involved in law enforcement and the finances.

How technology has improved response to crime by law enforcement

Technology is important in law enforcement because it has improved job efficiency in the police department. This is because use of technology in the law enforcement agencies has helped the organization in storing large volumes of data and also in processing large amounts of data. Technology has also helped the law enforcement by improving the capabilities of the

intelligence and investigation activities( National institute of justice,2004).It has also helped the

police to retrieve criminal records easily and any other information. The law enforcement has

benefited from technology in that it has helped in sharing of information with other agencies in

the country. Law enforcement has also used technology to improve its management and

accountability. This is because the agencies are able to manage costs and to get detect the

misconduct of police officers. This is possible as police officers are clearly examined using

management system and surveillance technology. Others systems have also been developed to

help in management like the investigation systems( National institute of

justice,2004).Information technology has been widely used in the law enforcement to improve

response to crimes. This technology has been used mostly in mapping crime and in integrating

information. Mapping crime using computers has developed over the last years thus helping law

enforcement officers to respond to crimes early. This has been due to growth in technology

such as computers and the development of Geographic information systems (GIS).This two

technologies have been used in analyzing crime, investigating crimes and also preventing

crimes. The law enforcement agencies have used GIS, software’s that map crimes and desktop

computers to analyze crimes( National institute of justice,2004). This has been effective. This is

because this technology is cheap and any firm can afford it. Mapping crimes in real time has

helped in reducing the response time for crimes and has also increased the safety of the police

officers as the law enforcement is able to identify locations at real time. This has been beneficial

in preventing crime as the law enforcement is able to get the right information at the right time

thus acting early unlike in traditional means where the response time is not minimal. Mapping

crimes on the spot has benefits in that the law enforcement is able to monitor crimes in real time

basis and to track crimes to track as they occur. It also helps in the law enforcement to identify

risks and distribute resources. Law enforcement can use the Spatial management analysis and

resource tracking technology to help in mapping crimes (Reichert,2001).This technology is

composed of several technologies like the geographic information systems and automated

vehicle location. It also includes information management system and global positioning tools.

The introduction of mobile phones has also helped in responding to crimes as police officers are

Law Enforcement Technology

able to respond to crimes early unlike in tradition ways of preventing crime. Most governments have forced the police departments to adopt geographic technology and also to incorporate techniques that help in crime mapping into the departmental management and also in crime analysis. Technology has helped law enforcement in sharing information electronically among other agencies and also with the public. There are other kinds of technologies that have been adapted by law enforcement to help them in responding to crime(Reichert,2001).These include use of computers in cars that help the police to track criminals easily. The law enforcement agencies have also used biometrics technology like face identification systems to identify criminals in the scene of crime and also use of finger print scanners that help detect the finger prints of the people involved in crimes. Law enforcement agencies have also used systems like E-policing to make the community aware of any criminal activities in their location. This has helped the police to responding to crimes as the society has becomes active in crime prevention. Call centre systems have also been used in United States to respond to crimes (Reichert,2001)

Conclusion

Technology can help law enforcement in reducing response time for crimes. This is because law enforcement is able to use advanced technologies like the Spatial management analysis and resource tracking technology to map crimes thus reducing the response time and also ensuring safety for the police officers. The law enforcement can also use other technologies like E-policing and biometrics to reduce crime response time. Thus technology can help to improve response time on crimes if used well.

Reference

Reichert, K.(2001).Use of information technology by law enforcement, page 1-4

National institute of justice.(2004).Report on improving law enforcement,page 1