In the face of rising crime, staffing issues, and challenges to their methods of community policing, how can law enforcement agencies best use more advanced technology to solve these problems?
With crime rates increasing in many areas, it is important for law enforcement organizations to look for opportunities to protect society as a whole. The question, of course, is how to deal with the high crime rate in the context of a limited budget and other constraining factors.
Although the answer is not simply the need for more law enforcement, it does point to the need for law enforcement to be properly equipped to resolve cases more quickly and efficiently. Indeed, law enforcement agencies need appropriate training, updated equipment, and adequate evidence storage to allow them to function properly in today's climate.
Law enforcement is tasked with handling everything from traffic stops to domestic disturbances to the unthinkable with plenty of stops in between. This is a big task to do, even when the staff is full. In a new report by Thomson Reuters. Data and technology: How law enforcement agencies see the future, 48% of law enforcement respondents surveyed said that employment-related concerns were their top issue of concern, and more than two-thirds (68%) indicated that employment-related concerns were in their top three areas of concern. Furthermore, about a third of respondents (33%) also said that issues related to technology modernization were one of their top three areas of concern as well.
The survey also indicated that departments dealing with rising crime rates and those in mid-sized jurisdictions place a higher priority on evaluating and investing in technologies to improve police effectiveness. It seems clear that even members of law enforcement know that more officers are needed. But the caveat is that if we can't get more officers, the officers we have must be better equipped to serve the needs of their community.
The study goes further to show that these technology tools are being purchased by law enforcement, including in-car/body-mounted cameras (58%); license plate readers (39%); Drones/thermal imaging/footage monitors (34%); Forensic/investigative techniques (33%); and video surveillance hardware/software (32%). Each of these technologies will enable law enforcement to do their work more effectively.
Technology is a big step towards providing a safer society within the constraints of a limited budget and growing population. Proper use of technology provides consistency, objectivity and protection to the agency as well as the citizen.
Benefits of technology
For example, body cameras are one way technology can increase effectiveness. A 2017 National Institute of Justice study found that police are more active in crime prevention activities when wearing cameras. Body-worn cameras have also been shown to provide compelling evidence to build legal cases. Their use has greatly validated positive behavior by officers, protecting police from false or frivolous complaints, while reducing inappropriate use of force by officers. (In fact, body cameras may have saved the Las Vegas Metro Police Department millions of dollars through reduced complaints and eventual financial settlements against officers.)
Investment in this essential technology is likely to have an overall positive impact, which is what both officials and society desire. As we said, it would also enhance objectivity and provide decisive evidence in legal proceedings.
Improvements in evidence and digital forensic technology can also help solve more advanced and technical crimes. Improved technology and digital forensics allow officers to investigate crimes and locate criminals more efficiently and more quickly. In cases where crimes are digital – such as online harassment or stalking – the use of digital forensics speeds up the investigation process. Digital forensic technology allows officers to collect data that can be quickly destroyed, making investigations more difficult.
In addition to these upgrades, new technologies such as drones are designed to keep officers safe and disseminate information to the public. For example, New York City is testing the use of drones to notify neighborhoods that may experience weather events. This type of technology can also be used to evaluate hostage or active shooter situations without physically endangering officers.
Furthermore, drones can reach areas more quickly than actual officers, allowing the area to be cleared and attention to be focused on the right areas. The utility and benefits of drones are evident in Chula Vista, California, where officers are able to quickly clear calls and dispatch the appropriate resources. Furthermore, drones do not suffer from the same physical limitations as individual officers.
In addition to the work law enforcement officers do to protect the community in real time, they must also participate in the judicial process, which means officers need to keep proper records. This means that there is a need for sufficient digital evidence repositories that can store not only digital evidence, but also video footage and even basic notes. These storage systems are even more important to the future of policing as efficient crime solving becomes more technologically advanced.
The future of policing and law enforcement lies in the ability to adapt and adapt to new technologies with continued support from the community. This requires a mutual understanding that technology enhances objectivity and efficiency, allowing police to do a better job. It also requires a commitment from the government to balance investments in officers and technology.
While newer technology makes the job better, there must be sufficient numbers of law enforcement personnel to complete this difficult task.
