The Future of Policing in America - Assignment Example

What changes do you think the future will bring to the area of law enforcement Clearly, the tragic events of 9/11 have changed thearea of law enforcement. Citizens have found that they have less privacy in the name of the Patriot Act. It is fair to say that the privacy that people have enjoyed will be further intruded upon. As terrorists learn to circumvent national security, citizens will pay the price. It would be improper to presume that the patterns of morality would be the same. Thus the future will certainly bring more impressive security technology, but hopefully not because the nation is still threatened by terrorism. What does the future hold concerning crime The future, unfortunately looks bleak. By way of example, the rate of kids joining gangs has increased. Where Hispanic and Asian girls were once satisfied being the girlfriend of a gang member, now they are starting their own gangs. (Felton, 2008) Additionally, as technology becomes more sophisticated, so does the crimes associated with it. Thus, it can reasonably inferred that with an increase in technology, will come an increase in crime. What criminal justice technology will be developed Will changes in police technology change the police role If so, how will the role of the police change There are various forms of police technology constantly being developed. The Moller M400 Skycar is perhaps the most impressive. With FAA certification expected before 2009, according to Moller International (n.d.), the first deliveries are expected to take place shortly thereafter. As with all new technologies, the first units will not be cheap. The first 500 production models are currently listed between $1,000,000, and $500,000 depending on the delivery position. After that, if production continues and accelerates, Moller is currently estimating that the M400 will sell for between $50,000 and $80,000. This is far cheaper than current private airplanes, and with much improved performance and safety. But, it has been a long time in coming. With the US military currently interested in its development, a successful production vehicle is viable in the near future. Harman (2000). The information contained in Electronic Crime Scene Investigation-A Guide for First Responders (available free of charge and downloadable from the Department of Justice) helps line cops solve crimes that are computer related. Step by step it explains the basic workings of the computer and provides the names of the various parts that make it work. It does not try to go into the technical aspects of this medium, but keeps it simple for the layman to understand. Not only does it talk about just computers, but really as the title suggests, anything that deals with electronic communication. Criminals are certainly using pagers, cell phones, cordless phones, answering machines, digital cameras and the like to commit there criminal acts. Clearly the whole range of electronic communication and information storing, has got to be looked at by law enforcement as a method that can be used by criminals, to exploit as a tool to victimize. The book explains and identifies the various parts of the computer that should be identified by law enforcement as possible evidence of various electronic criminal acts. The Central Processing Unit, keyboard, mouse and monitor are but a few of the main components of the computer that must be identified by law enforcement officers when engaged in the preliminary investigation of electronic crime. Modems, speakers, fax machines and printers are also additional pieces of equipment that must be identified. The fact that most of these electronic devices have the ability to store information must be part of the knowledge that the preliminary crime scene responder possesses. How to access that information has got to be one of the most important aspects of the investigation. Moreover, knowing that you do not have the expertise to access the information is critical. What role will technology play in crime scene investigation Traffic monitoring Will our basic civil liberties and constitutional rights be infringed upon by the use of technology in law enforcement Is that a fair price to pay State and local governments can spend more than $50,000 outfitting one police vehicle with modern technologies, and adding the necessary information technologies can double the cost of outfitting the vehicle, according to market observers and police departments. Vehicle service life varies, but typically lasts 24/7 for thrLaw enforcement agencies across the world are realizing that computer-related evidence can prove crucial in catching all kinds of criminals, not just hackers. That's why they are scrambling to hire officers skilled in computer forensics, the discipline of collecting electronic evidence. Nationwide, police departments are currently advertising for new recruits in the field. The qualifications required for entry level are degrees in computer science and/or information security. In the United States the FBI manages and funds a growing number of computer forensic labs and is also looking to recruit more personnel. Regardless of the nature of a crime, it is crucial to ensure the evidence stays intact - just like at a physical crime scene. This is why digital forensic examiners never work directly on suspects' computers. "Every time you look at a file on a computer, it changes - the date stamp, for instance, would register the day and time you opened the file, thus contaminating the evidence," explains Neil Barrett, professor of criminology at the Royal Military College of Science, Cranfield University, and author of "Traces of Guild" . "We preserve digital evidence with a method known as imaging or freezing. A suspect's hard drive is removed and put in a computer that is 'write blocked' and can't write to the disk. A forensic image is then taken of that hard drive - an exact clone which can be examined to see whether it contains any incriminating evidence." Accordingly, it is clear that as technology makes improvements, the crimes committed with it will become for sophisticated as well. As such, society will be forefiting what were once basic elemental rights of privacy. In this age of terrorism and suicide bonbings, privacy is something that we have to almost surrender for the good of our safety. Unfortunately, there are agencies that abuse their discretion and invade the privacy of a private citizen under the guise of anti terrorism laws. It seems, when balancing interests, that the privacy is not so much to give up for the time being. References Felton, P (2008). New York State Police. Retrieved March 18, 2008, from Counter Terrorism Web site: http://www.troopers.state.ny.us/ Harman, L. (2000, Nov/Dec). A Revolutionary Vehicle for the Future. Army Logistician, 32, 38. Moller International. (n.d.). Moller International. Retrieved March 18, 2008 from http://www.moller.com Read More