Technological Advance in Law Enforcement and the Use of Force Continuum - Term Paper Example

Technological advance in law enforcement and the use of force continuum Given the rate at which technology is changing, any law enforcement authority in the world would be at risk not to adapt to the changes at the same or a faster rate. Studies in the United States show that the rate of this change is so high that the top ten jobs will not exist in a decade. In the police department’s budget, the change is visible in the equipment that is under order from the mayor. The budget proves that items on order today were not even common knowledge a few years ago. The government recognizes the need of this new technology especially around the San Diego area where the border patrol was under constant threat by immigrants and drug dealers. The government flooded the border patrol with many high-tech tools in order to overcome this challenge. Since then, the rate of illegal immigration reduced a big deal and this shows how effective this technology is in law enforcement. The use of this technology is revolutionizing the ability of law enforcement bodies to combat crime and aid in service of justice. The use of force continuum is the policy that stipulates how much force the law enforcement officials can use against a resisting subject. This policy is clear in such a way that both the law enforcement and the citizens understand how and why the officers use force. Although this is usually under use during training, the use of force continuum is also applicable by a review board when determining whether use of force by an officer is justifiable. Stages in technological advancement As the technology rapidly advances, so does its use in law enforcement. There has been gradual improvement in technology but it has happened in stages. The first stage was between 1881 and 1945 and these were due to the work of August Vollmer. Under his jurisdiction in California, the department increased mobility through more vehicles for patrol. During this period, there was increase in precinct-patrol communication through radio and telephone. During this period, there was establishment of the first forensic laboratory that was applicable in evidence analysis. This laboratory was the precursor to use of polygraph, fingerprint and handwriting classification system therefore exponentially facilitating technology. This stage had significant effects on the improvement of the the police force. During this period, the force became more complex with several organizations arising, each with a specialized target. This is when the force started recruiting people to handle leach arm of the technology independently but in an integrated manner so the whole force would be in order. The mobility of the force was under increase due to use of automobiles within this period as well and this was efficient for crime fighting. This stage of technological development laid the trend for law enforcement. The second stage happened between 1946 and 1959 after the Second World War during the period of robust industrialization. This stage was crucial since the Second World War had led to the evolution of fighting weapons. This period, the traffic police received technology for measuring speeding and condition of the driver. These instruments were not advanced as those present today but they are the precursors. During the third stage between 1960 and 1979 when the computer age came to exist, the technology in law enforcement received a real boost. In police agencies, almost everything became computerized including the computer-aided- dispatch, computerized databanks and call distribution centers. This is the period when the president of the United States created a commission of enquiry into crimes and provided resources to fight it. Since the existing technology had outdone the police technology, the government used billions of dollars in law enforcement and the creation of the first 911 emergency systems was in place. During this stage, emphasis on communication between the people and the law enforcement bodies received encouragement form the government. This stage had massive research into how to improve security in technological applications and how they could be applicable in improving security. In this stage, there was a huge reliance on civilian population and specialists in improving the technology for the law enforcers. The fourth stage started in 1980 and is still happening presently is characterized by the use of technology in amassing information. This technology tries to use as much sight as possible without intruding on personal privacy. Currently the technology is at its best with the force adopting technology according to the recipient threats. The law enforcement agencies are organizations with the highest level of technology due to the rate of crime through technology. Policing in the near future may be on the level we only see in science fiction movies. All technological research and enhancement in the United States is happening in a bid to protect the national security. Use of force continuum In order for the use of this technology not to be under exploitation, the use of force continuum is applicable. Examples of force continuum are evident in several situations, when the officer’s presence is all that is necessary. In this case, no force is necessary since the presence of the officer deters a crime from happening. The officer’s attitude is non-threatening at this point but it still creates an impact. The second case is when the officer uses verbalization to prevent a crime from happening. The officer uses a calm voice in issuing a command; he is non-threatening to the recipient. When there is lack of compliance, the officer uses short commands and raises the voice. When the situation is out of hand and cannot be under control due to presence of an officer, or verbal commands, the officer then uses empty hand methods. This is where he restrains the victim by grabbing the body joints and cuffing them. If the victim is too violent, the officer uses hard techniques such as kicking and punching in order to subdue them. In other situations, the officer has to use less lethal methods to gain control of a situation such as blunt impact using batons, or projectiles to subdue a victim. Chemical spray is also applicable in subduing a victim and conducted energy devices such as tweezers. The last option in subduing a situation is use of lethal weapons. This is only applicable where a suspect is a serious threat to an officer or another individual. Officers use deadly weapons such as firearms. In this case taking of life is an option with proof that the individual was a deadly threat. These guidelines also help the civilians learn where they stand with law enforcement bodies. Conclusion The technological advances in law enforcement have been very helpful in saving both the life of civilians and the officers. In the past, most of the officers carried out their duties in protecting the civilians at the expense of their lives. In surveillance for example, previously undercover work was the only choice but recently strong surveillance equipment developed does not put the officer in danger. Cameras in many secluded areas in the city have been helpful in graffiti and drug trafficking and selling control. Almost all the areas in the city have lights and cameras hence in each crime there is a suspect under custody. In carrying out police raids, in the past there was no affirmation of what the officers were expecting hence facing more risks. Presently, the use of thermal imaging sensors aids the officers know where they are raiding and what to expect. This averts surprises that are otherwise deadly to the officers executing the raids. The new technology advocates for more communication between all the officers and the dispatch radios and GPS positioning systems aid the officers know the location and situation of each unit. This has been under emphasis for a long time and it has led to in-car cameras that help the precinct know the situation of their officers. References Alpert, G. P., & Dunham, R. G. (2004). Understanding police use of force: Officers, suspects, and reciprocity. Cambridge [u.a.: Cambridge Univ. Press. Asia Pacific Police Technology Conference, Vernon, J., Berwick, D., & Australian Institute of Criminology. (1993). Asia Pacific Police Technology Conference: Proceedings of a conference held 12-14 November 1991. Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology. Giles, H., & ebrary, Inc. (2002). Law enforcement, communication, and community. Amsterdam: J. Benjamins. Dempsey, J. S., & Forst, L. S. (2012). An introduction to policing. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning. Kinnaird, B. A. (2003). Use of force: Expert guidance for decisive force response. Flushing, NY: Looseleaf Law Publications. Snow, R. L. (2007). Technology and law enforcement: From gumshoe to gamma rays. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. Read More