CRJU 302 Policing 13 (chap 14)

Introduction

• Prior chapters noted technologies for criminal investigations, crime analysis, and officer accountability.

• Continuous development of technologies aims to enhance policing.

• Limitations are only imagination and financial resources.

• This chapter discusses innovative techniques addressing traditional crime issues, including:

  • Drones and robotics

  • Social media and smartphones

  • Enhancements in police intelligence, databases, and crime analysis

  • The role of body-worn cameras

Body Cameras

• Body cameras supported by both citizens and officers but face various universal adoption challenges:

  • Legal and Privacy Issues: Potential breaches of privacy rights.

  • Storage and Costs: Financial implications related to data storage and management.

  • Personnel Considerations: Staffing implications for managing footage and technology.

  • Policies and Procedures: Need for clear guidelines governing usage.

Drones

Basic Overview

• Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are aerial vehicles controlled from ground or airborne locations.

• While mostly developed for military usage, they present various law enforcement applications:

  • Patrol roads for speeders.

  • Reconnaissance and surveillance.

  • Search efforts for suspects or missing persons.

  • Crime scene imaging.

Concerns and Regulations

• Potential violations of citizens' rights raise concerns over drone usage.

• Advocates note public acceptance of increased monitoring.

• The IACP recommends securing a search warrant before deploying drones.

• Concerns from commercial pilots about inadequate training for drone operators.

Facial Recognition

• Enhanced Identification and Tracking:

  • Rapid suspect identification and location of missing persons.

  • Identifying individuals raises concerns about racial and gender biases, leading to potential misidentifications.

• Ongoing debates focus on privacy issues and ethical guidelines for facial recognition deployment.

Smartphones & Social Media

• The role of social media in policing:

  • Risks associated with releasing excessive information without proper filtering.

  • Increased community exposure for officers without adequate identity protection.

  • Minimal constraints on social media use, leading to challenges like "cop-baiting".

  • Despite drawbacks, police leverage platforms like YouTube and Instagram for public engagement.

  • Social media functions as a "force multiplier," dramatically enhancing information dissemination.

Developments with Electronic Control Devices (ECDs)

• Approximately 81% of municipal police agencies permit ECDs like TASERs.

• ECDs are becoming smaller, with improved portability and range.

• Key devices include:

  • TASER X26: Most popular model; standard issue for many agencies.

  • TASER CAM: Captures audio and video pre-deployment.

  • TASER X3: Allows for multiple discharges to address various threats.

• Safety Record: Claims to have saved over 100,000 lives with low reported injury risks during use; caution against shooting at the chest.

Robotics in Policing

• Police robots can be equipped with:

  • Odor sensors, video capability, and cameras.

  • TASER ECDs and two-way communication systems.

  • Additional features might include scanners and jointed arms for various applications.

Instant Access to Information and Crime Mapping

• Mobile Data Systems:

  • Officers utilize laptops connected to databases for criminal and vehicle information.

  • Includes access to court documents and dispatch records for efficient real-time communication.

• Crime Mapping:

  • Integrates GPS data with crime statistics for better analytical insights.

  • The NIJ's Crime Mapping Research Center promotes research and development of GIS technology in law enforcement.

Locating Serial Offenders

• Most offenders operate close to their homes in target-rich environments.

• Geographic Profiling:

  • Analyzes various data to predict the suspect's home location.

• HITS (Homicide Investigation and Tracking System):

  • Features crime databases, vice, gang files, sex offender registries, and DMV records for comprehensive investigation support.

Prevention of High-Speed Pursuits

• Agencies may prohibit high-speed chases due to liability risks.

• Alternative strategies include:

  • Bumping, crowding, and rolling roadblocks.

  • New technology can disable stolen vehicles with electric pulses to the ignition system, aiding recovery efforts.

Databases for Fingerprints and Mug Shots

• Fingerprints provide a dependable identification method.

• AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System):

  • Facilitates inter-agency fingerprint sharing for quick identification.

• New technologies integrate digital photo exchange with fingerprint systems to streamline processing.

Handheld Drug-Testing Devices

• Innovations in policing include cost-effective handheld drug tests.

• Benefits such as:

  • Reducing officer exposure to hazardous substances.

  • Maintaining chain of custody integrity.

  • Notable cost savings in drug testing procedures.

Firearm Developments

• Computer-Assisted Firearms Training (FATS):

  • High-fidelity training system mimicking real-life shooting scenarios.

• Gun “Fingerprints”:

  • Unique markings on ammunition can be used to trace firearms but face challenges like resistance from gun lobbies regarding existing weapons.

Augmented Reality

• Augmented Reality Technology:

  • Combines real and virtual images for enhanced operational effectiveness.

  • Applications may include:

    • Real-time intelligence on crime and suspects.

    • Facial and voice recognition tools.

    • Chemical and explosive sensors integration.

  • Risks of transitioning toward a robotic policing model.

Nanotechnology

• Nanotechnology impacts policing through:

  • Development of devices with properties at the nanoscale (100 nanometers or less).

  • Current applications include handheld drug detectors.

  • Potential future use in advanced body armor technologies for law enforcement.

Summary

• Ongoing technological advancements significantly impact policing practices.

• Innovations affect detection, investigation, safety, and community relations, but also bring new challenges, including:

  • Legal rights and liabilities.

  • Ethical usage standards for new technologies.

• Continuous adaptation is necessary to ensure the criminal justice system effectively and efficiently incorporates technological advancements for public and officer safety.