7/29/2019 Group b Final Written 2
1/7
Aiding our officers with technology 1
Aiding our officers with technology
Misty Wilson and Sheila Newman
CJA 363
February 11, 2013
Stewart Stanfield
7/29/2019 Group b Final Written 2
2/7
Aiding our officers with technology 2
To serve and protect is the oath that our law enforcement officers in this county take no
matter which branch they serve. With this oath comes responsibility and rules that they must
abide by to get justice for the people that they oversee. With that responsibility they are
fashioned with tools and resources that help them do their jobs efficiently and quickly in effort
to deter, prevent, and solve crime. Every job has certain tools that are used to help
communicate better with public, clients, management, and media. The criminal justice field is
no different weather it be training or electronic devices that aid our officers in their jobs
communicate with the public, people one on one or other officers.
To perform their duties, law enforcement officers looked toward new technology to
enhancing their effectiveness and ton aid them in the field. communication is the most
important resource available to the criminal justice profession not only between officer to
officer but also other departments, the public, witnesses, or suspects. Communication is the
exchange of information between two or more people, is considered to be a cycle between a
sender and a receiver whether it be verbal, written, or electronically sent (Wallace & Roberson
2009. Ch. 2, par. 6). Depending on the information being received or sent dictates the channel
that it must travel formal or informal. Formal channels are considered vertical for information
such as request, promotions, orders, evaluations, or discipline actions (Wallace & Roberson,
2009. par. 30). These types of communications are meant to be formal format that way there is
7/29/2019 Group b Final Written 2
3/7
Aiding our officers with technology 3
record of the information to protect everyone evolve if a situation ever arises (Wallace &
Roberson, 2009 par. 33). Then there is the informal communication that does not need to be
recorded like the exchange of information to perform their duties, or ideas or suggestions on a
particular case (Wallace & Roberson, 2009.par. 35).
Advances in Computer technology have enhancing the flow of communication in law
enforcement agencies. Most patrol cars are equipped with mobile data terminals (MDT), this
tool is a laptop computer with certain software available for officers, mounted in a police car.
This tool allows allows law enforcement to perform different functions, such as running license
plates and drivers licenses without having to call in to dispatch and wait for a response before
continuing on with their duties. The information they need to make informed decisions about
the contact or task is available to them on these devices weather it is a traffic stop, serving a
warrant or serving court papers. Officers would also have a way to communicate with the
dispatchers through the written to word that reduces the chance of a verbal
miscommunication and allows law enforcement the convenience having to document
messages about the situation. In the current procedure an officers communication or
information is relay through their computers systems. In this procedure officers do not have to
wait to get information on person such as if they have any warrants, valid driver license or
7/29/2019 Group b Final Written 2
4/7
Aiding our officers with technology 4
identification. The officer can communicate through the NCIC software of the on board
computer to retrieve the information that they seek. The Police and Law Enforcement
Magazine states Cutting-edge departments are pressing the boundaries of what is possible
with mobile data systems (Jerrard, 2010, pg.1 ). Computer technology allows the officer to
send quick messages through the computer system using certain codes. These codes allow
for officers to call for backup if needed in certain situations that may be considered too
dangerous.
Another tool that law enforcement uses are cell phones. some agencies are taking
advantage of the new options that are available for cell phone to send alerts to law
enforcement officers about crimes, wanted persons, and even emergencies happening in
their assigned areas. This tool is portal and can be used to communicate and access
information that the officer may need while walking their beat or assigned neighborhoods.
Mass text messages can be sent to alert many officers at one time about Amber alerts,
emergency events, or any other situations that need to address .
The radio is the oldest and most frequently used technology used for communication
between law enforcement officials and other departments (Harper, 2011). A number of
7/29/2019 Group b Final Written 2
5/7
Aiding our officers with technology 5
upgrades have been made to this form of communication like combining with computerized
technology to make it more functional. The radio communications allows the officer connect
with their dispatcher. The majority of dispatchers officers have four computerized screens that
they use for phone, radio, and computer traffic. This system lets dispatchers to retrieve and
send information about the location of incidents and quickly relay pertinent information to the
responding officers (Harper, 2011). A tool that is being implemented in larger agencies is a
software defined radio (SDR). This tool allows officers to communicate at crime scenes with
each other and other agencies or departments. According to an article in The National
Institute of Justice journal, SDR is a type of radio that uses software to control a radios
operating parameters and protocols, allowing the radio to be updated and reconfigured, thus
minimizing the need to change existing hardware (Heaps, 2012, pg.259). This technology
will allow officers to communicate with different agencies adjacent areas or states. SDR
records all communication, then it will create a generic report can be editing or proofread
before it is turned into the officers superiors. This software would make it possible for officers
to spend more time protect their communities instead of spending hours writing reports.
One of the most significant technologies for the future of the criminal justice system is
electronic language translators, since a majority of the population do not speak English or
7/29/2019 Group b Final Written 2
6/7
Aiding our officers with technology 6
speak small amounts of the language, this device would be an asset. Current devices can
translate English into a majority other languages, but have problem changing other languages
into comprehendible English (Drake, 2006). Devices can be made that will automatically
translate information spoken by a person for a law enforcement officer. This device would
portable like a cell phone this way an interviewed or interrogated could be conducted and the
person respond through the device. Then the device would respond with the information that
the person provided into comprehendible English. This tool would give the officers an
advantage and the opportunity to quickly receive the information to handle the
situation, instead of the officer having to call a person who can translate that specific
language (Mulvihill, 2008).
The use of technological tools is an fundamental part of communication in criminal justice
field. These tools can aid in faster response times, shorter responses for backup and
information. The future technology could help in receiving information from people who do not
speak the language and obtain information faster to deal with the situation. Technology is
making advances and developing everyday and as technology grows it will make
communication more efficient and faster for the people and departments in the criminal justice
system that implement them.
7/29/2019 Group b Final Written 2
7/7
Aiding our officers with technology 7
References
Wallace, H., & Roberson, C. (2009). Written and interpersonal communication: Methods for
law enforcement (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Harper, R. (2011, July). Police Dispatching Tips & Tools. Public Safety Communications
magazine, 77(7), 40-45. Retrieved from http://psc.apcointl.org/2011/07/14/police-dispatching-
tips-tools/
Jerrard, J. (2010). Going mobile. Law Officer: Police and Law Enforcement
Magazine. Retrieved fromhttp://www.lawofficer.com/article/technology-and-communications/going-mobile-0.
Heaps, J. (2008). Software Defined Radios Helped Agencies Communicate. National Institute
of Justice, 259. Retrieved fromhttp://www.nij.gov/journals/259/software-defined-radios.htm.
Drake, G. B. (2006). COMMUNICATING ACROSS LANGUAGE BARRIERS: LANGUAGE
TRANSLATION TECHNOLOGIES. Corrections Today, 68(6), 32-37
Mulvihill, R. (2008, October). NLECTCCommunications Technologies Center of Excellence:
Serving Law Enforcement Today, Planning for Tomorrow. The Police Chief,(10), .
Retrieved from http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?
fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=1635&issue_id=102008