Police and Soft Technology: How Information Technology Contributes to Police Decision Making (From The New Technology of Crime, Law and Social Control, P 153-183, 2007, James M. Byrne and Donald J. Rebovich, eds. -- See NCJ-218026)

• NCJ Number: 218033
• Author(s): Christopher J. Harris
• Date Published: 2007
• Length: 31 pages
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Press/Willow Tree Press
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter discusses new developments in police information technology (IT), with attention to the ways in which police are using IT to enhance their operational and administrative decisionmaking.

Abstract

Although it is clear that police agencies are rapidly acquiring IT systems in order to capture and retrieve data electronically and increase the efficiency of records management, it is less clear how IT systems are being used to enhance police decisionmaking at operational and administrative levels. Ideally, a police records management system (RMS) should be fully automated and capable of searching various related databases as part of an integrated system. The RMS would be connected with other databases within the department, such as dispatch records, property and evidence records, and other databases at all governmental levels. Other features of a quality police IT system are a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system, mobile data terminals, and information-sharing through the Internet. Some agencies are using IT systems to do more than just enhance recordkeeping. They are using IT capabilities to conduct crime analysis and crime mapping for the purpose of decisionmaking about crime-prevention and crime-response strategies and practices. Such IT-facilitated decisionmaking pertains to resource deployment and the investigation and apprehension of offenders. IT capabilities are central to a policing innovation developed by the New York City Police Department. Compstat is a system for collecting and disseminating information on crime problems and the tracking of efforts to address them. IT systems are also being used to identify officers who show early warning signs for the development of misconduct patterns, so that interventions can be made to prevent the repeat and/or escalation of misconduct. Whether IT systems can be adapted to serve police information needs for community-oriented policing and problem-oriented policing, as well as other new police roles or functions remains to be seen. 45 references