Pittsburgh Police Get Squad Car Laptops
The Pittsburgh Police Bureau is outfitting 189 police vehicles with wireless laptops that allow officers to run their own records checks and submit reports online to headquarters from their cruisers. The Automated Police Reporting System cost $150,000 to develop, and will cost about $113,400 a year in telecommunications costs.
Jeremy Boren, "Pittsburgh police go wireless," Pittsburgh (Pa.) Tribune Review, 1 Aug. 2007
Technology Improves Police Operations in Indiana
Mobile data computers are among the high-tech equipment that has improved operations for Evansville police over the past few years, increasing the information available to officers on the street and keeping them safer. With the latest squad car computers, officers responding to 911 calls can get satellite maps, check for alerts associated with a particular address, and see the locations of other officers.
Gavin Lesnick, "Help on the beat; High-tech Gadgets give police assistance on streets, in patrol cars," Evansville (Ind.) Courier & Press, 24 July 2007: D1
Idaho Falls Police Offer Accident Reports Online
The Idaho Falls Police Department has saved both money and time since an accident report system went online in May, greatly decreasing the number of public requests for documents. The system costs the department 80 cents per report, roughly $2,000 a year, and allows residents to download reports 24x7.
Nick Draper, "Get it yourself; Police use self-serve system for crash reports," Idaho Falls Post Register, 1 Aug. 2007: A1
Videoconferencing at Yakima County Jail
Yakima County commissioners and county jail officials have approved implementation of a $250,000 video visitation system to increase security and save on inmate transportation costs. Using the much more efficient videoconferencing system, visitors will communicate with inmates at the recently opened county jail from an offsite location, which will eventually be connected to the main jail as well.
Patrick D Muir, "County jail inmates will get visits by video only," Yakima (Wash.) Herald-Republic, 26 July 2007: A1
GPS Tracking Links Parolee to Robberies
San Bernardino, Calif. Police were able to nab a parolee who was a suspect in a string of robberies through the GPS monitor he was required to wear on a pilot state program. It is hoped that a look at his recent movements, as captured by the GPS system, will link the suspect to additional robberies.
Melissa Pinion-Whitt, "Parolee caught using GPS," San Bernardino County (Calif.) Sun, 27 July 2007
New Hampshire Plans to Add Parolee DNA Samples
A new state law allows the New Hampshire Corrections Department to collect DNA samples from violent criminals and sex offenders on parole or probation for inclusion in the FBI's CODIS database. Samples will be taken by mouth swabs during offenders' visits to district offices.
Margot Sanger-Katz, "State catalogs DNA of criminals on parole, probation," Concord (N.H.) Monitor, 31 July 2007: A1
Ohio County Hopes to Charge Inmates for Jail Room and Board
The Summit County Sheriff's Office hopes to join 60 other Ohio counties that have jails with pay-to-stay policies, authorized by a 1996 Ohio law which allows jails to charge inmates for their room and board. Pending approval by the County Council, the sheriff's office would hire a Youngstown-area company to install and maintain computer software to track inmates' bills, which could net the county up to $250,000 a year.
Carol Biliczky, "Summit sheriff wants inmates to pay; Ohio company would collect, split daily fees for jail stays under plan," Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal, 26 July 2007: A1
Iowa Offers Online Service for Jurors
eJuror, a new online service of the Iowa Judicial Branch, enables Iowans called for jury duty to use the Internet to respond to the court summons, complete a standard juror questionnaire, ask to reschedule jury duty, and obtain information about serving on a jury. "Each year, the courts call thousands of Iowans to jury duty," said Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Marsha Ternus. "Because their time is valuable we want to make their service as jurors as convenient as possible. Our new eJuror service will make reporting for jury duty a little easier."
"eJuror— A New Online Service of Iowa Courts," Iowa Judicial Branch news release, 19 July 2007
Court System Improves Operations with Videoconferencing
As part of the Northampton County's new central booking system, night court operations have been made more efficient through videoconferencing equipment and fax machines. District judges assigned to the night shift will be able to conduct arraignments and issue search warrants from their homes, saving on travel time to county offices and avoiding delays in the legal process.
Joe Nixon, "Suspects booked by mighty mouse; With a click, police now can connect with district judges online," Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.), 23 July 2007: B1
