Technology in Law Enforcement: The Impact of New Tech

Across industries, technology is revolutionizing how we live and work. Law enforcement technology, too, is being shaped by 21st-century tech advancements. Technology is transforming police work with new tools to fight crime (plus, new categories of crime to fight).   

To put it simply, technology in policing is here to stay. Alongside the shifts these advancements have brought, new tech also has the potential to make both responders and the general public safer.  

As new technology in law enforcement develops, police can leverage technology for the greater good in their departments and communities. So, what are the new technologies and effective tools that police officers can use to promote public safety? And how can CivicEye help you bring your department up to speed now, and in the future? Let’s take a look.  

5 Biggest Technological Impacts on Law Enforcement  

New technology has given police officers and intelligence agencies unprecedented power when it comes to cracking down on criminal activity to keep our communities safe. These new developments also help law enforcement tackle new forms of crime that are emerging, as criminals become more and more inventive in their own use of technology. Let’s examine five areas of the impact of technology on criminal justice.  

Smart Device Data  

Law enforcement technology responds to the overwhelming volume of police data that is generated on a daily basis. One of the biggest areas a department can use technology in law enforcement is by using cloud-based computing to send, store, organize, and report on the data it gathers. Accurate and abundant information is an asset in any industry, and law enforcement is no different. With cloud computing, departments can create better policies and procedures and streamline paperwork and reporting that often takes officers off the streets.   

Gone are the days of fumbling through paperwork and filing cabinets. Cloud-based computing allows police to access and analyze data quickly and efficiently in many ways. Through cloud computing, officers can access accurate statistics and have real-time dashboards that will monitor entire cities to expedite investigations and allow for better resource planning. These systems can also connect agencies to other criminal justice databases, leading to better information and decision-making.  

With the growing role of technology in the criminal justice field, more systems are moving online, which helps officers in many time-saving ways. One of those time savers is documents and records management. When you store your documents and policies in a cloud-based solution online, they are accessible anytime, anywhere.  

Online training for your officers is another great tool. Cloud-based computing systems offer a way to keep officers on top of required training. Primarily, this is because users can access modules online at any time. This is a great way to supplement hands-on, in-person training by making training more convenient.   

CivicEye is a leading solution when it comes to cloud-based computing for your public safety department. With CivicRMS, you can find the program that best suits your department’s needs and enhances the way you serve your communities.   

Biometrics  

Fingerprinting isn’t a new advancement in police work—it’s been around for over a century. But now, advancing technology in law enforcement expedites the time it takes to identify an individual, minus the ink pad. With biometric technology like handheld scanners and facial recognition software, departments can identify individuals faster and more accurately.   

Some of the newer technology even goes well beyond just fingerprints and facial recognition. There is an ever-expanding array of biometric characteristics being used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. A few of those biometric technologies include voice recognition, palm prints, wrist veins, iris recognition, gait analysis, and even heartbeat monitoring.  

This biometric data can now be stored in a comprehensive database so police and law enforcement agencies can work more efficiently. CivicEye’s RMS continues to move the industry forward with the availability of several biometric capabilities. With these features embedded directly within the CivicRMS platform, CivicRMS software can provide everything your department needs.  

Smarter Cruisers  

Police cars have come a long way since the first models hit the streets in Akron, Ohio in 1899. The evolution of technology in law enforcement has spread to cruisers as well. There are many new upgrades that are far from the original siren and lights.   

Now, cruisers have technologies such as Wi-Fi-connected laptops, tablets, and in-dash computers. All of these tools give officers real-time access to important information, communications systems, and much more. Also, many cruisers have enhanced dashcam capabilities, which are highly useful when it comes to surveillance and information gathering. Dashcam footage adds another layer of accountability and can serve as evidentiary support for traffic stops.   

Today’s cruisers can also be outfitted with automatic license plate recognition (ALPR), an important technology in law enforcement that has made policing the streets and enforcing traffic laws more efficient. In addition, ALPR is used for scanning and collecting registration information, identifying stolen vehicles, and monitoring Amber Alerts. This helps law enforcement agencies identify and apprehend criminals on the run quickly without the need to first stop the vehicle.   

CivicEye continues to be at the forefront of technology in law enforcement. All CivicEye software is operable on an officer’s mobile data devices. Whether it is on a dash cam, onboard laptop, or tablet, CivicEye can be there to help you and your agency harness the power of technology to create safer communities.   

Enhanced Body Cameras  

Having body camera footage from incidents is becoming the expectation for law enforcement agencies in most communities. More and more cities are outfitting officers with body cams for an additional layer of safety and accountability during high-pressure situations. With their increase in popularity, body camera technology is advancing to make units less cumbersome and more durable.   

Body camera technology has improved to allow for higher resolution, clearer audio, wider fields of vision, and resistance to extreme weather. Other advancements include the ability to integrate with in-car systems to synchronize and store the footage from multiple cameras to show the incident from all points of view.   

Included within this technology, smart holsters automatically activate the body camera whenever an officer draws their firearm. Experts predict that, in the future, body cameras will be equipped with facial recognition software to expedite identification. CivicEye’s technology allows users to download and look up body camera data that can be examined across multiple platforms.   

Drones  

Drones, also called unmanned aerial vehicles (UMV), have become increasingly useful when it comes to technology in law enforcement. These devices give officers the ability to see a previously inaccessible vantage point, aiding in crime scene work, search and rescue efforts, crowd monitoring and control, and accident reconstruction. Drones transmit footage and data in real time, making them an essential asset for emergency situations. Users can upload this data and store it within the CivicEye digital platform, which gives departments the ability to sort and recall the videos as needed in the future.  

Get in touch  

With all of these advancements, the impact of technology on criminal justice is undeniable. When you are ready to explore new technologies for your law enforcement agency, try CivicEye. Our solutions can streamline your processes and make policing more efficient, and our tech tools for law enforcement integrate seamlessly. Get in touch today for a free demo and see how CivicRMS can revolutionize your public safety agency.