Monday, May 11, 2015

The Use of Technology in The Criminal Justice System Has Improved Policing Over The Years By Paving The Way For Stronger Communications, Trustworthy Databases, And The Surveillance of Criminals.

  • Police technology enhances communications
  • The use of computers allows for stronger databases
  • Surveillance is used to find evidence for police when they are not available 
  • New technology allows for less lethal weapons 
It is amazing how technology changes the way society functions throughout everyday life. The inventions of cars allows people to travel quickly and to many different places, computers and phones have crated a new platform for people to stay connected, and cameras have allowed for tons of memories to be saved. These are just a few examples of inventions that have changed the world, ultimately for the better. When many people think of phones, cameras, and computers, they do not associate these items with saving lives. In the criminal justice system, the use of technology helps police to do just that. 

The way police officers are able to communicate with one another make a huge difference in the effectiveness of preventing and solving crimes.

Improvements in phones, and radios have allowed for better and more efficient policing throughout the years. Before cell phones were created, landlines were used to contact the police in case of emergency. The problem with this is that if a person was not at home, they were unable to get in contact with an officer quickly. In the chart to the right, data from the 911 resource center, shows that the number of 911 calls made by a cellphone are significantly higher than those made by a wireline. The invention of cellphones allows people to dial 911 whenever and wherever, which allows police to respond as soon as possible, and help those in need.

Another important communications technology is the radio. According to the National Institute of Justice, the use of radios are able to improve first-responders communications.  Radios allow officers to communicate with other law enforcement officials who can tell them where crimes are happening, where they need to go, and keep them updated when things change suddenly. The way officers are able to communicate with both the community and other officials allows for better policing, and technological advancements in this area has been able to improve this issue. 

Computers in the criminal justice system allow for larger databases, accurate data and evidence in crimes, and crime mapping. 

According to Mullen, a survey of United States city police agencies in the 1990s showed that only six percent of responders did not have an in house computer system. This shows that information technology has almost completely taken over the criminal justice system, and is being used in everyday policing practices throughout the country. With the invention of the computer, law enforcement agencies have been able to create databases to research certain individuals, find past records, and locate suspects and criminals. The creation of online databases have been one of the greatest technological advancements in the criminal justice system. The ability to track and keep records or criminal activity and data has improved policing and has made it easier for police to prevent and solve crimes. 

Two specific database that police use the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), and the The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). CODIS has allowed police to analyze any DNA that is found at a crime scene, and be able to match this DNA to a criminal that they may have in their system. Without CODIS, matching DNA samples would be impossible, and make finding suspects a lot more difficult. IAFIS is similar in that it analyzes collected DNA, but it specifically focuses on fingerprints only. This databases includes over 70 million US and international fingerprints that police can use to match suspects to fingerprints. 

Police use computers to quickly store information and locate crime destinations. 

Often times when police are interviewing suspects, they need to quickly store the information they are hearing in order to present it as evidence. When interviewing suspects on the street or on the go, officers use the computer systems in their cars to quickly type of information. Computer systems installed in police vehicles are also used to map out crime. The Geographic Information System (GIS), is a map that shows where crime occurs based on location. This lets police know where hotspots, or clusters of crime occur, which allows them to decide how to prevent crime in these areas. 

Cameras are used in the criminal justice system for surveillance purposes, which aims to deter people from crime, and protect both citizens and officers. 

It is common to see surveillance cameras in almost any building in the US today. These cameras are placed usually in schools, stores, and banks to deter people fro committing crimes, and also to catch them if they do. These cameras monitor any suspicious behavior, and allow the police to track sudden movements. Surveillance cameras also are able to protect officers by allowing them to view the environment from a safe distance, before entering the scene (nij.gov). Police officers are able to secretly place cameras in dangerous situations in order to asses the situation without actually being there. 

The most recent use of cameras that we see today are body cameras used by law enforcement. Body cameras are small cameras that are worn by police officers, that record everything that is going on when an arrest is being made. This ensures the safety of police officers from suspects when making an arrest, and also protects suspects from corrupt officers. The United States has recently seen a lot of police brutality occur where the officer has not been charged or held accountable for their actions. This is one of the reasons why many people are urging the use of body cameras in all states so that there will always be video evidence available during an arrest, which will ultimately decrease the amount of corruption. 

Overall, the use of technology has improved the criminal justice system and the efficiency of police work in the field. From communications, to computerized databases, to surveillance cameras, information technology has taken over the criminal justice system and has drastically changed the way police do their jobs. Today, technology is used everyday in the field and helps police to prevent and solve crimes quickly, safely, and accurately.

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