Technology and Crime Analysis
Technology is used by every single criminal justice practitioner in some way, shape or form each and every day. When it comes to crime analysis technology is there to help with accurate analysis of the crime scene or evidence obtained. Some examples of the technology used in crime analysis include radios, telecommunications, computer, data storage and collection. Each technology has its own unique role during crime analysis, all are equally important. Computers, data storage and collection would be the main technology that is used to assist during crime analysis. Computers are necessary for accurate crime analysis because they cut the chances of mistakes being made. Further all the information needed is stored within the computer for access later by any law enforcement official in any state. Basically that means that any and all data that is collected, stored and processed will be the same as it was when it was entered into the system and will remain accurate when it is needed by law enforcement agents or when it is needed for crime analysis.
Computer Hardware
Computer hardware used by criminal analysts are similar to those that are used in other professions that depend on computers to help complete their work. Crime analysts use desktop computers to complete a majority of their work and use laptop computers for work in the field and also for presentations. In many cases police department’s crime analysis units have their own servers to house tabular data stream, geographic data, and software applications that are shared by users. An example of why computers are important to crime analysis, if the information about every location in which a crime has occurred is properly entered into a data...
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...ost of the agencies across the country, which means if there happens to be a string of crimes going on in a couple of cities, those agencies can put their heads together and help apprehend the people that are committing the crimes. Overall it helps make our towns and cities are safer and better place to live.
Conclusion
With all the tools and technology that is at the disposal of crime analysts it gives one hope that one day crime can be suppressed. There is so much more out there that can be covered and reviewed by others that can be held responsible for helping make the United States a safer country, but then again the paper would probably be twenty pages long. Computer, data bases, computer aided dispatch and geographical information systems are important tools to normal everyday people and are mastered by the analysts that use them every day to combat crime.
Digital Forensic is the process of uncovering and interpreting electronic data that can be used in a court of law. It requires a set of standards to show how the information that is gathered, preserve, and analyzed is strictly followed. The analysts need to understand the evolution of the current technology and how it will impact how they gather their information. The investigator is able to uncover evidence and analyze it to gain the understanding of the motives, crime, and the criminal’s identity to help solve the crime. As computers and technology continue to become a part of our everyday lives, the cyber realm contains a growing realm for evince in all types of criminal investigations (Cummings, 2008) Digital forensics is a way to connect information security and law enforcement. It ensures that the digital evidence is collected in a way that it can make it into the courts in an unhampered or uncontaminated way (Dlamini, M., Eloff, J. & Eloff, M., 2009).
The next model we will take a look at is the Crime Control model. It is based on co...
One of the most important aspects of studying a history of a place is why that place came into existence in the first place. The FBI's Regional Computer Forensics Laboratories are perhaps not a terribly well-known entity within the general public, yet they play an essential part in both our justice system, and our everyday lives. So this begs the question, why would a laboratory centered strictly around computers, even more specifically the forensics around computers, come to be in an age where certainly all major government establishments have, and are familiar with, computers and the technology associated within them. These are a few of the questions that will be answered throughout this research paper, along with an analysis of where they are today, and where it appears the future of these labs will take them.
Technology has opened new encounters and opportunities for the criminal justice system. There are so many new practices of criminal activity, such as computer crimes. There are different types of computer crimes that many people become victims of every day. Computer crime is any crime that involves a computer and a network. The computer may have been used in the commission of a crime, or it may be the target ("Computer Crime: Chapter 2: What Are the Crimes?", n.d.). Crimes such as data diddling, pump and dump, social engineering and spoofing are computer crimes. Even though these crimes are difficult by privacy issues, the new technology has made investigations and prosecutions well organized and effective. Though views are different on the pros and cons of specific technological changes in the criminal justice system, there is an agreement the system has changed affectedly ("Effects of Technology in Criminal Justice | eHow", n.d.).
Pallaras, Stephen. "New Technology: Opportunities And Challenges For Prosecutors." Crime, Law & Social Change 56.1 (2011): 71-89. SocINDEX with Full Text. Web. 10 Mar. 2014.
According to Rachel Boba, “Crime analysis is a law enforcement function that involves systematic analysis for identifying and analyzing patterns and trends in crime and disorder” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime analysis).The information on these patterns can assist law enforcement agencies in the deployment of resources in a more effective manner; it can also help detectives to identify and catch suspects. Crime analysis also plays a role in improvising solutions to crime problems, and developing crime prevention strategies. There are various types of technology that is used in crime analysis. Crime analysis relies heavily on computer technology, and over the past fifteen years there has been a significant improvement in computer hardware and software that has led to tremendous developments in this field. One form of hardware that is used by Crime analysts to complete most of their work is Desktop personal computers, laptop computers are also used by crime analysts for fieldwork and presentations. Other forms of hardware that are used include color laser printers that can produce high-quality documents quickly, plotters which are printers that can produce large poster size color maps, scanners, and digital cameras, these specific types of hardware is mostly used by police departments when analyzing crime.
The use of computers in homes, schools, offices, and other places has increased in the past few years due to technological developments. As computers have become important components of modern communication, their increased use has also led to the emergence of computer crimes. Computer crimes basically involve the use of a computer system to carry out an illegal activity. In attempts to lessen the frequency and impact of computer crimes, law enforcement agencies use computer forensic to investigate these offenses. Actually, computer crimes are governed by specific laws and dealt with through conducting a computer forensic investigation (Easttom & Taylor, 2011, p.337). Notably, a computer forensic investigation is usually carried out through the use of computer forensic tools, which help in collection of evidence based on the specific offense.
Crime analysis is the systematic study of crime and disorder problems as well as other police related issues including sociodemographic, spatial, and temporal factors to assist the police in criminal apprehension, crime and disorder reduction, crime prevention, and evaluation (Santos). Crime analysts, sometimes called intelligence analysts, use three primary types of crime analysis. Tactical crime analysis is used to identify immediate crime threats determine patterns (i.e. location, suspect descriptive), and disseminate that information to patrol officers and detectives. Strategic crime analysis involves gathering in interpreting crime data, then making recommendations as to where police resources are best concentrated. Finally, administrative
One of the most imperative pieces to completing any organized crime scenario are the day in and day out facts of how the organization was ran, what people were contacted, and the different types of activities that were illegally preformed. The analyst must be able to obtain information in order to make an analysis of what or who may or may not be at the root of a crime(s). This type of information can be found in law enforcement files, which are now moving towards electronically storing information. The analyst must be especially computer literate in order to research criminal activity and association.
Forensic science has now been recognized as an important part of the law enforcement team to help solve crimes and cold cases. The advances in technology are being used each day and we must continue to strive to develop better advances in this field. The recent discovery of using DNA in criminal cases has helped not only positively identify the suspect, but it has helped exonerate hundreds of innocent individuals. “With new advances in police technology and computer science, crime scene investigation and forensic science will only become more precise as we head into the future.” (Roufa, 2017) Forensic science and evidence helps law enforcement officials solve crimes through the collection, preservation and analysis of evidence. By having a mobile crime laboratory, the scene gets processed quicker and more efficiently. Forensic science will only grow in the future to be a benefit for the criminal justice
Computers take part in a big role in the Criminal Justice Field. So far computers have allowed us to make it accessible for witnesses to go through and look for a suspect's picture on the screen. Computers have enabled us to be able to do DNA testing. Which now only takes the labs a short time to process, and finding criminals from cases 15+ years ago can now be charged for their actions.
Throughout the years, technology has been increasing in both good and bad ways. Technology is now being used to contact people through social media, link people together through group chats, and also spy on people. Although connecting with people instantly on social media is the upside to technology usage, people often tend to share private information that can be used in the wrong way which is the downside of technology. As both technology and crime increases, technology usage is now being increased to help solve crimes. Many years ago, without the usage of technology, many aspects of a crime was not questioned or the resources to uncover certain evidence were both time consuming and/or expensive. The Police Chief Magazine list many technological improvements that have been put in place to
Today, technology has affected our global surroundings in a number of ways. Technology has created a more advanced society and economy. We use technology in every aspect of life today. New innovations and technology helps create a safer atmosphere and reduces the rate of crime. Technology is the usage and knowledge of techniques or is systems of these things. Usage of technology in the criminal justice system is not new but more apparent today. Technology in criminal justice will continue to challenge us to think about how we turn information into knowledge. Due to new technology, criminal investigations are able to maintain and improve their processes. Forensic science, DNA, other and future technology has all had a tremendous impact on criminal investigation and its process.
Wolf, Ulf. “Cyber-Crime: Law Enforcement Must Keep Pace With Tech-Savvy Criminals.” Digitalcommunities 27 Jan. 2009 .
Throughout the course this semester we have examined numerous issues, policies and procedures that affect the way law enforcement officers behave, carry out their duties and interact with the public at large and segments of the public on a smaller scale. New technological advances are developed to prevent crime and to enhance the performance of law enforcement officers. However we all know very little regarding why and how some advances are accepted, and the penalties of technology drove solutions to the matter of crime. In this essay we will examine new technological advances developed within law enforcement and how they affect the daily performances and routines for the officers working today.