Nearly every industry has been transformed by technology over the last few decades. Law enforcement technology is one example of advancements that have changed the way law enforcement professionals investigate crimes. Mobile technology in particular has allowed police officers, sheriff’s offices and detectives to be more connected with the people they protect and quicker to react. Here are five examples of mobile devices for police officers and other technologies that have had a considerable effect on law enforcement.
- Mobile Investigation Management
Mobile investigation management refers to mobile programs that allow personnel involved in a case or investigation to use a simple interface to manage case flow in real-time. Programs like CrimePad from the technology company Visionations allow personnel to log evidence and information even without an internet connection. This type of mobile technology, combined with innovative software, reduces the amount of time spent communicating new information and helps law enforcement professionals respond faster, possibly changing the entire outcome of pivotal cases.
- Mobile Fingerprinting
Mobile fingerprinting is another technology that allows officers to stay in the field longer and reduces unneeded travel and work. Small, easy-to-transport fingerprint readers increase officer productivity by providing an accurate fingerprint reading in minutes. This is an example of mobile devices for police officers that are especially useful in situations where an officer is unable to get other identification for an individual. In these situations, an officer can get an ID on the spot instead of having to bring the individual to a station to be identified.
- Social Media
No longer just reserved for individuals’ personal enjoyment, social media is now used by police and others in law enforcement to engage with their community, gain knowledge about cases and solicit crime-stopping tips. According to a 2010 IACP Center for Social Media survey of law enforcement chief executives, 81% reported that they use social media in their work. Of that number, nearly 67% said they use Facebook (the most commonly used network). Some of the most common activities on social media included:
- Investigating crimes
- Updating the public on crime
- Activities related to crime prevention
- Gaining crime tips from the public
- Body Cameras and In-Car Video
Body cameras and police car cameras came about as a way to increase officer accountability as well as their own safety and cut down on unnecessary violent incidents. These advancements could help uphold the reputation of police as noble, upstanding role models. While these examples of law enforcement technology are also sometimes controversial and bring up issues regarding individual privacy, there is no doubt that they have significantly altered the way the public views police work and the way police officers view their own duties.
- Tablets, Laptops and other Mobile Devices
These days it is commonplace for officers to have laptops in their squad cars to expedite traffic stops. More and more departments are now introducing tablets and other mobile devices to increase officers’ level of mobility. Mobile devices for police allow officers to work nearly anywhere and advance case investigations and other police work without the extra time required to return to a desk or workstation to electronically enter manual notes. Mobile apps like CrimePad even have offline versions to further increase the ability of officers to react and solve crimes faster even when they cannot connect to the Internet.
Every new law enforcement technology that comes along allows police officers to do their jobs better, faster or in a more informed way. Are you interested in how you could use law enforcement technology like CrimePad and other mobile solutions in your department? Click here to learn more about innovative mobile technology from our law enforcement mobile technology specialist.
Sources
http://www.govtech.com/public-safety/GT-Top-10-Mobile-Trends-for-Law-Enforcement.html
http://source.southuniversity.edu/fighting-crime-with-mobile-technology-137309.aspx
http://source.southuniversity.edu/fighting-crime-with-mobile-technology-137309.aspx