Law Enforcement Technology Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Law Enforcement Technology - Essay Example The information technology and electronic gadgets have significantly impacted the performance of policing in states and helped enforce law and order. Chan (2001) asserts that information is stock-in-trade of policing which considerably influences enforcement of law. The ready access to information, especially criminal records becomes vital ingredient in investigating and preventing crimes. The various agencies, including police use sophisticated gadgets to coordinate and track crimes and criminals. Computer based crime mapping has revolutionized policing. GIS or geographical information system facilitates and help create pattern of crime within the defined geographical location so that spatial trend in crime is easily identified. It helps to manipulate and display geographical knowledge in new and exciting ways (Cowen 2001, p. 3). GPS or global positioning system is another important technology that is used for direction and identifying route maps to locate crime or track criminals or suspects. Chicago police was the first to use technology to collaborate with community and enhance mechanisms of controlling crimes. It introduced CAPS or Chicago Alternative police Strategy to solve neighborhood problems. ICAM or Information Collecting for Automated Mapping is its key tool that has 90 days relevant data related to crime hot spots including maps, graphs and details of reported crimes (Skogan & Hartnett, 1996). It is updated and accessible to community for transparent community policing. This has been adopted by other states to improve policing and reducing crime. Real time Computer Aided Detection System is another important tool that helps monitor illegal entry of cross border immigration, drug trafficking etc. Indeed, the geo-mapping helps to analyze and create linkages and patterns of crime for determining the potential risk factors and identification of