“Internet and computer technology is an important piece of the law enforcement puzzle in 2010. Police, Fire and EMS departments operating without computer aided dispatch and records management systems are working at a disadvantage,” according to the Police Executive Research Forum’s 2009 report. “IT has the most potential to enhance the effectiveness of police in reducing crime. By improving the ability of police to collect, manage and analyze data, IT can enhance the administrative efficiency of police organizations and help them target the people, places and problems that contribute most to crime,” the report states. The authors conclude that “IT-related advances in geographic information systems (GIS), records management, and crime analysis software” have allowed police and sheriff’s departments to pinpoint “hot spots” of criminal activity for effective monitoring.
Next Generation 911 systems, automatic vehicle location tracking, and speech translation systems are just three of the latest advances being implemented into law enforcement departments in 2010. Accepting calls via text messaging and VOIP has become more of a necessity as cell phone use overcomes land based lines. Although the 911 system is considered the most effective technological improvement of the past three decades, abuse of the system for nonemergencies has resulted in the development of the 311 system.
AVL Systems and mobile computers in patrol cars and emergency response vehicles aid in dispatching as well as monitor officer safety. The use of infield computers has increased over 50% between 1990 and 2003, according to the PERF report.
The rise in non-English speaking immigrants has necessitated the use of speech translation devices in law enforcement. In combination with computerized dispatch, immediate translation of calls reduces response time and assists in proper aid routing. Sharing data between state, local and federal agencies has become SOP for law enforcement since the attacks of September 11, 2001. Software packages that facilitate data sharing are mandated in many communities.
Predicting future advancements can be as enigmatic as predicting the weather. Fingerprint scanning, mobile chemical testing and CCTV in conjunction with biometric technology for facial and behavioral recognition are just a few of the emerging technologies in law enforcement. Along with the utilization of text message alerting, Face book monitoring / communication, and email notification, police departments are utilizing internet technology to improve their connection with their residents.