Verified Document

Law Enforcement How Technology Is Term Paper

The Council was created to improve the ability of the Police Department to respond to a situation and educate the Department and the community." (Richmond Police Department, 2004) Police departments have had to become terrorist experts. The Homeland Security Terrorism Advisory Council for example is a collaboration of sworn officers and civilian employees with diverse backgrounds. Many of these members are or were leading members of specially trained units or have extensive training in SWAT, bomb technology, military assault, hazmat crime analysis, international terrorism intelligence, strategic planning and many other legal units such as basic attorneys. Through technology and experience, the Homeland Security Terrorism Advisory Council should be able to identify, acquire, plan, and advise on terroristic crisis. With this knowledge base the unit should be able to therefore anticipate, prevent, and effectively respond to any terrorist situation.

Future

The future of policing will continue to be a collaborative effort between police and the communities the aim to protect. "In 1986, the Attorney General's Conference on Less-Than-Lethal Weapons characterized the law enforcement officer's most common tools - the nightstick and the gun - as inappropriate in many instances, especially in hostage and barricade situations, which require equipment that can stop a dangerous subject without endangering innocent hostages or bystanders. Clearly, criminal justice professionals need new approaches to capturing, subduing, and detaining subjects." (Boyd, 1995) Many police department will eventually adopt ways to incorporate the community more in the mix. "Technology permits things like mobile neighborhood police assistance centers which are specially equipped recreational vehicles that officers use to deliver assistance into high-crime areas." (Dempsey et al., 1997) These types of technologies will in the future allow officers to remain in a bad neighborhood 24 hours a day and therefore helping to prevent violent crime reduce or stop drug trafficking and participate in neighborhood watch groups which is beneficial to create ties with community members.

The future of law enforcement will continue to be enhanced by new non-or less lethal forms of technology. "Developing...

In a 1985 landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled that deadly force is unjustified against an escaping, nonviolent felon and called for the law enforcement community to develop appropriate equipment to apprehend suspects safely." (Boyd, 1995) Technological breakthroughs considered non-lethal include: Sticky Foam, Strobe-and-Goggle Technology, Remote-Control Barrier Strips, Backseat Airbag, Fleeing Vehicle Tagging System, Smart Guns and Smart Cars to name a few. These technologies will not eliminate crime. They will however make law enforcement agencies more capable of controlling the inevitable.
Conclusion

In conclusion, this report aimed to show how law enforcement has been both positively and at times adversely affected by technology. The cost to fight crime is high. Large urban or well funded communities often do not have the necessary funds needed to purchase the newest cars or the most effective equipment. Thus, it can only be assumed that small departments are even more under funded and under manned. They miss out on technological breakthroughs as law enforcement advances technologically. Both big and small law enforcement departments will continue to be pressured into implementing newer techniques and technologies to fight crime. With those pressures come the demands of upgrading equipment but it also creates a need for better educated and well trained human resource aspects.

References

Boyd, David G. (1995). On the cutting edge: law enforcement technology. The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 7/1/1995.

Dempsey, Tom, Department of Government and Public Affairs, & Newport News. (1997, November 1). Computer Communications Technology Facilitates Law Enforcement. Retrieved September 16, 2004, at http://www.iacptechnology.org/Library/ComputerTraining.htm

Division of Emergency Communications. (n.d.). Captain Linda Samuel. Retrieved September 16, 2004, at http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/department/police/Chief/pdxxs_DEC.asp

Richmond Police Department. (n.d.). Richmond Police Department. Retrieved September 16, 2004, at http://www.richmondgov.com/department/police/pdxxi_index.asp

Technology and Law Enforcement

Sources used in this document:
References

Boyd, David G. (1995). On the cutting edge: law enforcement technology. The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 7/1/1995.

Dempsey, Tom, Department of Government and Public Affairs, & Newport News. (1997, November 1). Computer Communications Technology Facilitates Law Enforcement. Retrieved September 16, 2004, at http://www.iacptechnology.org/Library/ComputerTraining.htm

Division of Emergency Communications. (n.d.). Captain Linda Samuel. Retrieved September 16, 2004, at http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/department/police/Chief/pdxxs_DEC.asp

Richmond Police Department. (n.d.). Richmond Police Department. Retrieved September 16, 2004, at http://www.richmondgov.com/department/police/pdxxi_index.asp
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Law Enforcement Technology Do You
Words: 1452 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Community policing calls for decentralization both in command structure and decision-making. Decentralized decision making permits officers on the front line to take responsibility for their job. When an officer is given more power to create solutions to problems and take risks, they feels more accountable for those solutions and assumes a greater responsibility for the well being of everyone in the community. "Decentralized decision making involves flattening the hierarchy of

Law Enforcement Responses to Terrorism
Words: 1696 Length: 5 Document Type: Research Paper

Law Enforcement Responses on Terrorism Law Enforcement on Terrorism The paper covers the topic, Law Enforcement Responses on Terrorism. It creates the understanding of Terrorism and the impact on the society, as well as the threats it poses to law enforcement agents. The paper identifies various tactics that law enforcement officials employ in order to deal with terrorist activities, for example, the use of technology such as GIS (Geographical information systems). The

Technology and Law Enforcement the Field of
Words: 2051 Length: 7 Document Type: Essay

Technology and Law Enforcement The field of law enforcement has been one of the most challenging fields from the historical time yet it is a department that cannot be wished away as long as the society has to remain sane and civilised. The only option is to persistently and consistently update law enforcement and equip it in order to cary out the respective duties and responsibilities that it should in order

Law Enforcement and Corrections
Words: 1720 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Law enforcement and corrections can be influenced by several external threats. These consist of external communication gaps and many environmental influences. One of the key external threats that impacts both corrections and law enforcement is politics. In delineation, politics is the art of wielding one's authority and power over the government or public affairs. In particular, political action can give rise to the imposition of one's interests within the government,

Law Enforcement Is One of
Words: 1580 Length: 5 Document Type: Term Paper

Goal setting techniques also reduce stress, as a sense of purpose is now both part of time and personal management within the police department. Collaborative policing through electronic communication can also serve as a time-saving device. Police departments can now collaborate to a certain extent without the cost of travel or long telephone conversations. These collaborations can act as a time saving device in cases where specialized advice is required,

Law Enforcement on September 11, 2001, Almost
Words: 676 Length: 2 Document Type: Essay

Law Enforcement On September 11, 2001, almost a decade past, the world was not only shocked by the events surrounding the terrorist actions against the United States, but the basic mission of law enforcement; local, regional, state, federal, and international, has dramatically changed. Since 9/11, the most basic mission of law enforcement has been to both uncover and anticipate potential terrorist targets and attacks and do anything and everything to prevent

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now