Technology and Policing free essay sample

Law Enforcement embraced the use of a wide range of these scientific techniques to curb criminals. Policing has integrated technology in their work to make apprehension of criminals and investigation of cases easier. Technology In the police department ranges from computers to computer software which has made policing more convenient and efficient to the public community and to the law enforcers. This paper will therefore establish the particular technological advances that have made police work more accurate and time saving, how much of he technology the law enforcement should embrace and how technology is being used by law enforcement.Two journals are compared and contrasted. Peter Manning, in his Journal describes how technology has helped In policing through use of Information technology In crime analysis and crime mapping. In his journal, Manning argues that although technology In police departments have helped in solving crimes and curbing criminals more efficiently, technology is not being used to its full potential to fight crime. We will write a custom essay sample on Technology and Policing or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Some police departments are yet to embrace policing technology and this derails them in fighting crime.Therefore, he commends suitable technologies that can be adopted in policing to make their work easier (Manning, 2008). In his Journal, he explores the Interrelationship between public and private police Institution. HIS SIX year long research focuses on three police department in Washington and explores the effects that different forms of technology have on policing. His journal further looks into crime mapping and crime analysis in ways which the law enforcement firms can use to make their work more effective.Another Journal, Police Technology by Raymond E. Foster explores the history of been fully utilized in policing. Raymond attributes the effectiveness through which crimes are solved to technology. Fingerprinting and crime laboratories which were introduced in policing in the sass made solving of cases by the police faster. He further explores the role of private sector manufacturers, whose services the police depend to acquire the technology needed. Raymond report notes the introduction of computer in police stations to have been around the sass.He however reports that computers were not being used by the police to make their work effective, maybe due to the complexity of the gadget (Raymond, 2008). Police officers were hence squired to take courses to upgrade themselves to be able to use the computers although insufficient funds marred the training. Once in complete use, the computers cut the paper work in police departments almost by half. Today, even the small police stations have computers. The most widely used technology by the police is use of mobile phones.This technology gives room for mobility of the officers which is much needed if they are to catch up with criminals. Use of mobile phone technology allows the officers to access information from the Police National Computers, hence allowing them to do their ark without being at the office, hence efficiently. The emergency response departments have gained a lot from the use of mobile gadgets as they are able to respond faster to situations irrespective of their locations. The one major problem facing use of mobile technology is the network coverage, but with time it will improve. Actually, the police force encourages those officers with no knowledge of technological devices to learn about them, and require those Joining to have mandatory knowledge on the use of these devices. Another technological device that has helped law enforcers in curbing crimes is he use of laser guided tracking systems instead of engaging the criminal in a speed chase. The officers only follow the get away vehicle for a short distance; launch the GAPS device from the front of their vehicle onto the get away car through laser sight and let the criminal go away.The officers are able to follow the whereabouts of the suspect through wireless networks in real time. When the suspect slows down the police now apprehend him. This technology has helped the police force since a decline in deaths of those who die from stray bullets has been observed. The officers re also safe since they do not engage in shooting run away suspects. Suffolk police County Police Department is carrying a pilot test of this technology while the Los Angels Police Department is already using it.The Federal Investigation Bureau (FBI) is one unit that is using technology to do its work and technology has not disappointed them. The FBI launched the first investigation and crime laboratory in 1910. Ever since 1910, the lab has been updated through acquiring the newest technology. Evidence collected from a crime scene is taken to the lab and analyzed to help in solving the crime. The FBI is using a very interesting technology to detect whether a person knows something about a crime scene (Raymond, 2008).They take images of a crime scene, and using a called brain fingerprinting to detect the reaction of the person when he/she sees the images. The FBI can know if a person knows something about a certain crime depending on the reaction of the brain after seeing the images. Brain fingerprinting has helped the FBI solve numerous cold cases because it helps in collecting evidence on a crime. DNA is another technological advance that has made the work of the FBI easier. DNA use started in the early sass and its reliability was guaranteed.DNA testing has helped crime investigators since they can take DNA samples from the scene of crime and from the suspects and compare them. Cold cases which used to take months and years to solve can now be solved in a matter of days, thanks to DNA technology. By using DNA the FBI can also be able to connect a dead body to the owner and further to investigate cause of death leading to the arrest of the perpetrator. There are other technologies that have been of help in the police department although they are not talked about much.For example, use of rubber lets to disperse violent crowds, use of bullet proof Jackets by officers to protect themselves in case of shoot outs, use of small gadgets like tasters which delivers shock to a person momentarily killing them. A tasters only limitation is the range within which it can be used (Raymond, 2008). A police officer has to be close to the suspect to use it effectively, which might be dangerous for the officer. Technology is not only limited to the FBI. Other law enforcement units in dire need of technology are the border patrol police and the traffic police.The border police need equipment to detect hidden weapons and drugs being crossed over orders. They also need devices to stop run away speeding vehicles as suspicious vehicles speed away when stopped for investigation and police take time to catch them or loose them altogether (Manning, 2008). But with the introduction of tagging systems, fleeing vehicles will be a thing of the past. A remotely operated device can be attached to the fleeing vehicles and it can be followed remotely until it slows or stops thats when the culprit is accosted.The tagging device will also come in handy for the traffic police. They do not have to engage in high speed chases with criminals and endanger their lives and those of the citizens. Funds have always been the restricting factor for the growth and implementation of police technology although the government is doing all it can to make sure that the latest of the technologies are available to law enforcement officers. It is important for law enforcement officer to acclimatize to technology as it comes if they are to fight crime. Criminals are also not about to be left behind by technology (Raymond, 2008).They use the internet and mobile communication to plan and carry out their felonies. With all the technology available to anyone who as money, it is not difficult for Iranians to acquire the best guns and other lethal objects and the police should be in a position to deal with them. The use of a detector that can detect metal objects and other weapons is therefore a must have for police officer especially those on patrol. It helps the officers detect the weapons from a safe distance and accost the technology to curb criminals.For example, certain drug dealers had a website where they exchange ski materials with narcotics. Police posed as prospective buyers on the internet and caught the criminals in the act. Acceptance of technology by the law enforcers has also been cited as a reason why technology is not being fully utilized by law enforcers. Therefore, before Joining the police force it is important to have knowledge of the various form of technology in use so that it can be easy for and individual to acclimatize and use the technology (Manning, 2008).Technology not only helps protect the life of citizens, but also keeps the law enforcement community safe. Personally, I would recommend the use of as much technology as is available to the police to help fight crime since the criminals are also using crime to commit crimes. Technology will help the officers to be always step ahead of the criminals sometimes even catching them before they commit a crime or catching them red handed.