NCJ Number
171533
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 67 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1998) Pages: 6-9
Date Published
1998
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses increased officer efficiency associated with the use of in-car computers for accessing information.
Abstract
The Ohio State Highway Patrol discovered in a recent study that law enforcement officers with in-car data access technology made more than eight times as many information inquiries on drivers' records, vehicle registrations, wanted persons, and property files per 8-hour shift as did officers without in-car computers. The study used cellular digital packet data on digital cellular networks already in place. Findings include the following: (1) During the 10 data-sampling days, officers in the test group made 17.12 percent more inquiries than those in the control group, despite working 8,604 fewer hours; (2) Throughout the 3-month project, 37 test-group officers made 41,816 inquiries and generated 805 alerts; and (3) Officers in the test group averaged 18.94 more arrests/citations per month than officers in the control group. In addition, officers involved in the project believed that officer safety increases as the amount of available information increases. Prior knowledge regarding the registered owner and vehicle during a traffic stop was a primary benefit of an in-car data access system. Table