CJS/241: Introduction to Criminal Justice Week 5 Presentation

The use of Technology in Policing

Police Technology Database and Information Technology Allows for the easy storage of vast amounts of information that is searchable and easily accessible Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) 1) Fast and effective communication method for field officers 2) Enhances ability to monitor officer status 3) Helps to prioritize calls Records Management Systems Reduces confusion and increases efficiency by allowing for the easy paperless distribution of records between different agencies and departments Mobile Computing Those are the laptops you see in so many police cars

Police Technology-New COMPSTAT Computerized data management that allows for non-field officers to analyze information Early Intervention Systems Again, an internal tool that allows for the identification of possible problems with specific officers based on a collection of information License Plate Readers Obvious implications

Less-than-Lethal Weapons

Definition All weapons have the potential to be lethal, including one’s fists Therefore less-than-lethal weapons are generally considered to be weapons that are less likely to cause a fatality than conventional weapons

Examples Batons Pepper Spray Verbal Communication And of course…. The TASER Despite the popular belief that the TASER is non-lethal, more and more research is showing than indeed the TASER can cause fatality

Discussion Does the development of less-than-lethal weapons encourage increased use of force whereas before, when an officer only had the option of using a lethal weapons, she would choose to not use force?

Issues of Homeland Security and Law Enforcement

Role Expansion While it used to be solely within the purview of the federal government to be concerned with foreign attacks, we now have seen that role expanded to state and local police departments This includes 1) Investigation of suspected terrorists 2) Preparation for a response to a terrorist attack 3) Preparation for specific types of attacks, like the use of chemical or biological weapons

Enforcing Immigration The Constitution specifically gives the federal government the power to enforce the immigration laws of the United States Historically that power has remained solely with the federal government, however that has changed since 9/11 Now the federal government is permitting local agencies to assist in immigration enforcement The Department of Homeland Security has created a program that allows for local agencies to work with the federal government

Increased Personnel Needs The combination of a larger armed forces (thereby diverting many potential and current officers) as well as the increased role of enforcement has created a need for more officers Therefore the budgets of local law enforcement agencies has expanded; this has caused problems because money has been taken away from other areas traditionally funded by local governments

The Future of Policing

Demographic Change Increase of minority groups that has never been seen before Within our lifetimes the number of racial minorities will outnumber the number of Caucasians in the United States Possible Implications? What can we predict based upon the past?

Future of Police Technology The emphasis is now on data collection. Where have we seen this in the media as of late? What are the possible problematic implications of large scale data gathering?

Technology in Policing

Police Technology Database and Information Technology Allows for the easy storage of vast amounts of information that is searchable and easily accessible Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) 1) Fast and effective communication method for field officers 2) Enhances ability to monitor officer status 3) Helps to prioritize calls Records Management Systems Reduces confusion and increases efficiency by allowing for the easy paperless distribution of records between different agencies and departments Mobile Computing Those are the laptops you see in so many police cars

Police Technology-New COMPSTAT Computerized data management that allows for non-field officers to analyze information Early Intervention Systems Again, an internal tool that allows for the identification of possible problems with specific officers based on a collection of information License Plate Readers Obvious implications

OBJECTIVE 5.2 Define less-than-lethal weapons

Definition All weapons have the potential to be lethal, including one’s fists Therefore less-than-lethal weapons are generally considered to be weapons that are less likely to cause a fatality than conventional weapons

Examples Batons Pepper Spray Verbal Communication And of course…. The TASER Despite the popular belief that the TASER is non-lethal, more and more research is showing than indeed the TASER can cause fatality

Discussion Does the development of less-than-lethal weapons encourage increased use of force whereas before, when an officer only had the option of using a lethal weapons, she would choose to not use force?

OBJECTIVE 5.4 Examine issues of homeland security and law enforcement

Role Expansion While it used to be solely within the purview of the federal government to be concerned with foreign attacks, we now have seen that role expanded to state and local police departments This includes 1) Investigation of suspected terrorists 2) Preparation for a response to a terrorist attack 3) Preparation for specific types of attacks, like the use of chemical or biological weapons

Enforcing Immigration The Constitution specifically gives the federal government the power to enforce the immigration laws of the United States Historically that power has remained solely with the federal government, however that has changed since 9/11 Now the federal government is permitting local agencies to assist in immigration enforcement The Department of Homeland Security has created a program that allows for local agencies to work with the federal government

Increased Personnel Needs The combination of a larger armed forces (thereby diverting many potential and current officers) as well as the increased role of enforcement has created a need for more officers Therefore the budgets of local law enforcement agencies has expanded; this has caused problems because money has been taken away from other areas traditionally funded by local governments

OBJECTIVE 5.5 Describe the future of policing

Demographic Change Increase of minority groups that has never been seen before Within our lifetimes the number of racial minorities will outnumber the number of Caucasians in the United States Possible Implications? What can we predict based upon the past?

Future of Police Technology The emphasis is now on data collection. Where have we seen this in the media as of late? What are the possible problematic implications of large scale data gathering?