CENTER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH WEEKLY NEWS: Covering Law Enforcement, Corrections & Courts across the United States
 

Vol. 3 #29 November 15, 1999

Baltimore County (Maryland) Police are developing a sophisticated crime mapping tool that uses data supplied by departments in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area to better track criminal activity that crosses jurisdictions. The Regional Crime Analysis Geographic Information System will be faster and provide maps in more detail than existing programs, and has been funded by state and local grants. The Department hopes the tool will be made available to police across the country by the U.S. Department of Justice for as little as $100 per computer.

[Source: "Crime map to cover region; Balto. County police say use of computer to help track trends" by Nancy A. Youssef; The Baltimore (MD) Sun, November 8, 1999, Pg. 1B]

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Item #2  CHARLOTTE COUNTY (FL) SHERIFF'S OFFICE LAPTOP PURCHASE

The Charlotte County (Florida) Sheriff's Office has purchased 20 squad car laptops to allow deputies to write reports in their vehicles and quickly access state and federal criminal databases. The department is also looking at the use of training through interactive computer programs, which would be about one-quarter the cost of classroom training.

[Source: "Sheriff says technology will cut department costs" by Robert Eckhart; Sarasota Herald-Tribune, October 30, 199, Pg. 1B]

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Item #3  FLOYD COUNTY (KY) GETS NEW DISPATCH AND RECORDS SYSTEM

Police in Floyd County, Kentucky will soon have a new $150,000 computer-aided dispatch and records system that will offer access to county jail records and other databases to provide more information when officers respond to 911 calls. The new system is funded through a special income tax fund the county devotes to capital improvements. Crime statistics will be more easily compiled through the new records system, simplifying reports required by the FBI.

[Source: "Floyd County: New system will give police instant background checks" by Eric Weslander; The Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) November 4, 1999, Pg. 1B]

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Item #4  IDAHO LAW ENFORCEMENT RUNS Y2K TEST

Y2K tests recently run in Idaho focused on public safety computer and communications systems that link telephones and computers across the state, particularly the microwave system shared by the Department of Law Enforcement and others. The test was a successful check of the state's business continuity plan instructions on how to best repair possible microwave glitches.

[Source: "Idaho officials test systems with Y2K, disaster scenarios" by Ken Miller; The Idaho Statesman, October 30, 1999, Pg. 1B]

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Item #5  NEBRASKA COUNTIES PLAN TO SHARE POLICE TECHNOLOGY

A plan by two Nebraska counties -- Sarpy and Douglas counties -- to share dispatch and records management systems has progressed with the recent approval by the Sarpy County Board for $1.46 million to purchase software that will enable officers to access criminal records and mug shots from their squad car laptops. Under the plan, Douglas County will use Sarpy County's 800-Megahertz radio system to support squad car communications and Sarpy County will share use of Douglas' 911 CAD system.

[Source: "$1.46 Million Cruiser Technology Upgrade Closer" by Christine Laue; The Omaha (NE) World-Herald, October 27, 1999, Pg. 21]
 

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Item #6  ATLANTA (GA) POLICE USE OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES

The Atlanta (Georgia) Police Department has added technology to its operations overt the last few years, including squad car laptops, crime mapping, digital mug shots, and automated fingerprinting. A Wide Area Network (WAN) connects the communications systems of all precincts. The Atlanta PD now has a growing need for crime analysts to optimize use of its technology.

[Source: "Atlanta Police Fighting Crime with Computers" by Maria Mallory; The Atlanta (GA) Journal and Constitution, November 3, 1999, Pg. 11E]

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COURT TECHNOLOGY NEWS
 

Item # 7  TRAVIS COUNTY (TX) COURT USE OF VIDEOCONFERENCING

A judge in the 167th District Court in Travis County, Texas recently used videoconferencing equipment to accept a guilty plea from a man being held in a Cobb County, Georgia jail for a similar sexual offense.  A 1997 Texas statute allows judges to read defendants their rights and accept pleas using videoconferencing technology if the defendant waives his or her right to appear in person. Travis County purchased its videoconferencing equipment last year for a pilot project involving inmates at its Del Valle jail, but this was the first actual use of the system.

[Source: "Camera system speeds justice" by Leah Quin; Austin (TX) American-Statesman, November 5, 1999, Pg. B1]

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 CORRECTIONS TECHNOLOGY NEWS
 

Item #8  WISCONSIN CORRECTIONS DEPARTMENT IS Y2K-COMPLIANT

Wisconsin Department of Corrections officials report that all six of its major computer hardware and software systems are Y2K-compliant. The department has also verified that electronic monitoring equipment used for home detention is Y2K-compliant. In case any problems do arise, Corrections officials have increased staffing at its facilities for the beginning of the year, and will monitor sites from a central command post in the capitol.

[Source: "Officials not worried about New Year's jailbreak; Experts don't anticipate any security failures when the clock strikes midnight" by Dennis Chaptman and Tom Held; Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel, November 1, 1999, Pg. 2]

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Center for Criminal Justice Technology Research Weekly News is compiled by Jeffrey Michaels jeffreym@mitretek.org