Essay on Law Enforcement Technology - Technology Essay

Essay on Use of Technology in Law Enforcement 

            Technology began when man started to control and modify nature to meet his needs.  It has brought about many changes in our lives and has made our lives easier.  Some of the persons who were greatly benefited by the advancement in our technology are the law enforcement officers.  There was a time when law enforcement officers could only rely on their guts, physical and mental toughness in the performance of their duties.  In certain cases, where the suspect does not resist arrest, guts and physical and mental toughness can be enough to effect an arrest.  However, there are cases where the suspect could become very violent and so law enforcement officers cannot just rely on sheer guts.  Without the use of efficient technology, the arrest could sometimes turn out violent endangering the life of the law enforcement officer or the people within the vicinity.

            Law enforcement officers used to carry with them wooden batons as their only weapons against violent individuals who resist arrest (Scott Oldham, 2005, p.1).  Batons could be very painful when used against a violent suspect but it is not enough to stop a determined and strong suspect. 

            With the recent development in law enforcement technology, law enforcement officers need not worry about injuring themselves in the course of an arrest.  They now have the aid of stun guns and taser guns to help them effect an arrest without resorting to violence.  With the use of stun guns police officers are able to harness the power of electricity.  Stun guns are used by pressing it into the body of the suspect.  It will then generate a high-voltage but low-amperage electrical charge which has the effect of disrupting the normal functioning of the suspect’s nervous system causing temporary paralysis.   The electronic charge it releases can disable the suspect for 20 to 30minutes enough time for them to place handcuff on the suspect.  

            It is very common to hear charges of police brutality or violation of civil rights being filed against law enforcement officers.  Most of these charges originate while law enforcement officers are effecting an arrest.  In these cases, the police officer is at the mercy of the people filing a case against him who with the use of their fertile imagination may concoct stories about police brutality.  Oftentimes, the law enforcement officer is left with no means by which he can use to defend himself especially when he is in a hostile territory where no one is expected to come out and testify in favor of the police. 

Some of the problems encountered by law enforcement officers while on mobile patrol is how to chase the suspect who could either be on foot or riding a vehicle while at the same time trying to recollect the suspect’s face, the shirt he wore, his height, body weight, color of his car and plate number.  IN these cases, they only had to rely on their recollection of the event.  Oftentimes because the event happens in split seconds, the police have no opportunity to give an accurate recollection of the event. 

            Police officers no longer have to worry about the possibility of charges of brutality being filed against them in the course of an arrest.  Also, they need not worry about forgetting the suspect’s face or the license number of the vehicle or the kind of weapon used.  Law enforcement officers only have to produce the recording of his patrol car video surveillance and present it in court to disprove the false and malicious accusations against him.  It is a powerful technology that can not only capture the events and movements of both the police officer and the suspect but it can also record their voices. 

            Another great technological advancement that has benefited law enforcement officers is the improvement in the fingerprinting technology.  Several decades ago, law enforcement officers could only gather the fingerprints taken from crime scene, and place them on file and then keep them inside their steel cabinets.  In case a fingerprint is taken from a crime scene and the suspect is unidentified, they had to literally compare every fingerprint they have on file with that found in the crime scene hoping that one of these fingerprints will match.  This old method was very tedious and took a very long time. 

            With the advancement however in our computer technology, fingerprints can now be scanned and saved in computers.  It has now become the task of computers to identify whether the fingerprint saved on the computer is a match with that found at the crime scene.  The best part is that comparison only takes a few seconds.  Because of the importance of this technology in crime fighting, the FBI now requires that every police force must submit the new fingerprints they have collected for saving and storage in FBI database called the CODIS program.  Its objective is to create a national database of fingerprints so that identification of suspect will become easier. 

            Just like any technology, however, it can be abused.  In the hands of an abusive law enforcement officer, stun guns may cause serious injury against a suspect if not used properly.  According to United Nations Committee use of stun guns by the police may cause extreme pain and in certain cases may lead to death.  (David Morgan, 2007, p.2)  It has been reported that since 1999, 80 people have died and others have been seriously injured by police using electronic stun gun which negate the claims that they are non lethal weapons.  (Greg Mathis, 2005, p.1)

            Use of police car video surveillance may be advantageous for some but it may pose a serious constitutional challenge for others.   Lawyers have challenged the legality of the act of police officers using their video camera as proof to apprehend those who commit over speeding and those who run against red lights.  Their contention is that the owners of the car are automatically considered guilty and imposed a penalty even if it may be possible that the car owners were not driving the vehicles at the time the infraction was committed.  Aside from constitutional violation of presumption of innocence, some police officers may use the video camera for the purpose of invading the privacy of private individuals. 

            On the other hand, there are those that criticize the idea of requiring every police force to submit to the FBI every fingerprint record they have on file.  They argue that it is possible that in the future FBI may require every citizen of this country to submit to the FBI every fingerprint of a child born in the US creating an ID system with the use of fingerprints.  They argue that this violates the zone of privacy of individuals. 

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Essay on Use of Technology and Challenges in the Administration of Criminal Justice System

The criminal justice administrators have a lot of challenges in the day to day administration of the criminal justice system.  Presently, court administrators have been benefited by the development in computer and internet technology.  Courts have now created website that have allowed them to reach the litigants making dissemination of information faster and more efficient.  For instance, courts have now issued information about shortened court hours.  They have also posted on their websites information about court fees, bail schedules, court rules and other information that may help litigants.  The computers and Internet Technology have greatly streamlined and improved the administration of the criminal justice system.

However, there are still a number of challenges in the administration of criminal justice system that need to be addressed.  First, is the volume of caseloads that affect the schedule of hearing of cases in courts.  It should be stressed that the delays in the hearings in courts affect the criminal justice system.  After all, justice delayed is justice denied.  Recent studies show that the state courts handle as much as 100 million new cases annually (Larry J. Siegel p.366).   Majority of these cases involve drugs which is considered to have significantly increased the burden of the courts.  While the Supreme Court has created specialized courts to deal with specialized cases such as drugs, juvenile crimes and annulment cases, these have not been enough to meet the increase in the number of cases in court.

The volume of caseloads in court affects the administration of justice.  When the volume of caseload is heavy schedule of hearings is affected.  Instead of a case being heard for twice a month courts are forced to schedule hearings at least one a month or even once every other month.  This delays the hearings of the case and the disposition of the orders and decisions.

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Another major challenges in the administration of the courts is the issue of privacy.  As mentioned earlier, use of technology in court administration has increased and it is now being fused with the day to day functions of the court in order to streamline its process.  An issue is that the use of technology in actual courtrooms may pose significant problem in the future for the courts.  For example, the presentation of proof and evidence such as documents and pictures are now being done through monitors.  Documentary evidence are not being digitalized so that its reproduction and presentation in court could be made easier.  Suspects and witnesses need not appear in actual court.  In some courts, suspects and witness need not be physically present in an actual hearing since they could testify using computer monitors (Frederic I Lederer 1).

One reason why suspects are required to take the witness stand and face the victim is the presumption that it is more difficult to lie when a person is under oath and when is in front of a jury who have the opportunity to examine his behavior and his demeanor.  The jury and the judge can see the actual demeanor of the suspect while he is being questioned.  In contrast, allowing a suspect to testify in court without being physically present in court gives him an unfair advantage since it deprives the judge and the jury opportunity to actually and physically see his behavior while he is making his testimony.  This may affect the administration of justice.

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Cameras in Courtrooms in England and Wales are allowed

As a matter of public policy, trials are open to spectators.  In view of the principles of transparency in the criminal justice system, the public which is represented by the mass media can be present during trials as spectators.

In general, use of cameras during trial to record what is happening in the courtroom is forbidden.  In fact, almost all federal trial courts forbid cameras. During the trial of Oklahoma City Federal Building bomber Timothy McVeigh the news cameras were barred.  Access through a closed-circuit system was granted only to the relatives of the bombing after a special law was passed by Congress.  Recently, however, a number of courts have allowed to a certain extend media coverage of trials.  These are however subject to strict rules which must be observed by the mass media.

England and Wales is among the few countries in the world that does not allow use of camera inside courtroom.  Surprisingly, recently, in a news article entitled England, Wales to allow cameras in court for the first time a law was passed in England and Wales allowing for the first time the use of television cameras in courts where judges can be filmed delivering summaries.  It should be stressed that victims, witnesses, defendants or juries will not be filmed.  

The new law was passed to improve the public’s understanding of the criminal justice system and to improve transparency in the administration of justice.

Technology as aid in the criminal justice system is now being increasingly used in court.  While are benefits the increasing use of technology also presents challenges in the administration of criminal justice system.  For more information about the use of technology and challenges in the administration of criminal justice system visit our website at www.smartessaywriters.com.

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Essay on Policing in the Future

Essay on Policing in the Future

The law enforcement officers are perhaps one of most misunderstood public servants.  The misunderstanding stems from the fact that many of the police officers share the same character traits which are secretive, strict, indifferent, apathetic, and formal.  They are perceived as individuals who are emotionless and unmoved by the hardship of others.  However, the public does not know that due to the nature of the job of police officers they are required to be indifferent and apathetic.  The police department trains its members to develop these character traits since experience has taught then that these character traits can help protect a police officer while in the performance of his duties.  In fact, these character traits can be used to help save the life of a police officer Thus, though these character traits are the reasons why the public and the law enforcement officers do not have a very good relationship with each other. 

However, in view of the implementation of the Community Oriented Policing, the police officers are poised to take on a new and different role.  Under the Community Oriented Policing, the law enforcement officers are required to take on a new and different role.  They are now more required to focus on establishing a positive relationship with the community and to concentrate their efforts on problem solving.  This is a substantial deviation from the traditional task of law enforcement officers whose functions have in the past been limited to the search and arrest of the suspects in a crime.  Under the Community Oriented Policing, the focus is the partnership with the community so that crime will be prevented and the other problems of the community may be immediately addressed with the help of the law enforcement officers. 

The federal government has indicated that the law enforcement officers will also take on a bigger role in the fight against domestic and international terrorism. It must be stressed at the onset that domestic or international terrorism is not different from any other crime committed within the territory of the United States.  Aside from the fact that terrorism’s main purpose is to spread fear, it also involves the disturbance of peace within the community which the police officers are tasked to immediately address. 

Terrorism prevention is something that the law enforcement officers can be tasked to participate in (Clark & Newman, 2007, p.1). With the help of Community Oriented Policing, law enforcement officers can establish a better relationship with the community which can play a bigger role in terrorism prevention. 

It must be stressed that when there is a strong partnership between the local police and the community the reporting of strangers and unusual activities become easier.  The police officers are the ones who are familiar with the people within the community.  They also regularly communicate with the locals within the community.  They are more likely to be familiar with the people who live within the community.  In theory, they are also more likely to be familiar every time there is a new person within the neighborhood.  They are also more likely to be alerted when there are subtle changes in the community.  Through their dealings with the community, they are more familiar with individuals who have a record of past criminal activities.  Through the help of the community, the law enforcement officers’ functions can be enhanced.  Individuals who may fit the description of known or suspected terrorists can be easily disseminated in the community.  The public can also easily report them to the local police department. 

Second, the Community Oriented Policing empowers the police officers, broadens their functions and authorizes them made decisions (Scheider & Chapman, 2003, p.1).  With these changes the law enforcement officers can quickly respond to emergencies in order to prevent a terrorist attack.  It also dispenses with the need for the police officers to get the permission of higher officers before they make their decision.  Third, when the police officers are in contact with the community the public can easily advise them of the locations and areas where the terrorist may want to attack.  For instance, the public can communicate to the police if there are dams, warehouses, and electrical facilities within the community where the defenses are weak and needs added protection by the local police.

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II. Use of Technology

Technology is closely tied with the concept of innovation.  There was a time when law enforcement officers utilized the wooden batons as their only weapons against violent individuals who resisted arrest (Scott Oldham, 2005, p.1).  In view of the lack of effective weapons that they can use to apprehend and subdue suspects, encounters between law enforcement officers and suspects often lead to a bloody fight.  As a result either the police officer or the suspect ends up getting seriously hurt or killed. 

There was also a time when law enforcement officers had to rely on their recollection of the events during dangerous situations.  They had to record the license number of the suspect’s getaway vehicle, remember their faces and the kind of weapons used.  If they were able to arrest the suspects after a dangerous situation, suspects often filed suits against law enforcement officers alleging brutality and violence they experienced in the hands of the police officers.  There being no other witnesses, the police officer had always been placed in jeopardy of being maliciously sued by a suspect he had arrested in his line of duty. 

With the use of technology, man was able to control and modify nature for the purpose of satisfying his own needs. Law enforcement officers have found simple solutions to their everyday problems.  With the use of stun guns police officers were able to harness the power of electricity.  They were able to control the volt and use it to apprehend violent suspects by incapacitating them temporarily.  With the discovery of stun guns, police officers no longer have to worry about getting hurt or hurting anybody in the course of the arrest.  In case a suspect resists arrest and becomes really violent, the law enforcement officer only has to press this gun against the body of the suspect.  It will release an electronic charge that is high in voltage that can disable the suspect for 20 to 30minutes enough time for them to place handcuff on the suspect. 

Police officers no longer have to worry about the possibility of them forgetting the suspect’s face or the license number of the vehicle or the kind of weapon used.  He also need not fear that suits for excessive violence and brutality may be filed against him because there is physical evidence that can be presented before the court.  Law enforcement officers only have to produce the recording of his patrol car video surveillance and present it in court to disprove the false and malicious accusations against him. 

Just like any technology, however, it can be abused.  In the hands of an abusive law enforcement officer, stun guns may cause serious injury against a suspect if not used properly.  According to United Nations Committee use of stun guns by the police may cause extreme pain and in certain cases may lead to death.  (David Morgan, 2007, p.2)  It has been reported that since 1999, 80 people have died and others have been seriously injured by police using electronic stun gun which negate the claims that they are non lethal weapons.  (Greg Mathis, 2005, p.1)

Use of police car video surveillance may be advantageous for some but it may pose a serious constitutional challenge for others.   Lawyers have challenged the legality of the act of police officers using their video camera as proof to apprehend those who commit over speeding and those who run against red lights.  Their contention is that the owners of the car are automatically considered guilty and imposed a penalty even if it may be possible that the car owners were not driving the vehicles at the time the infraction was committed.  Aside from constitutional violation of presumption of innocence, some police officers may use the video camera for the purpose of invading the privacy of private individuals. 

III.

Law enforcement officers deal with the criminal elements in the society.  In arresting and investigating these criminal elements, they oftentimes use violent force in order to elude the police officers that are pursuing them.  As a result, some police officers are forced to use violent force in order to protect themselves and the public from harm against these criminal elements. 

Because police officers use force they are oftentimes accused of police brutality in the performance of their duties.  Police brutality is a term used to describe the excessive use of physical force, assault, verbal attacks, and threats by police officers and other law enforcement officers.  It may come in the form of unjustified shooting, severe beatings, fatal choking, and unnecessarily rough treatment, misuse of baton, and chemical sprays.  Police brutality happens not only in the streets but it may also happen inside the prison walls involving convicted defendants.  Cases of police brutality have been reported not only in rural areas, but also in suburban and urban areas as well.  Research shows that between Dec. 2005 and Dec. 2006, police misconduct complaints received from around the country have increased by 40 percent, from 239 to 336.  (Hazel Trice Edney, 2006 p.2) 

Use of excessive force in the performance of duty is a sensitive issue.  This is because it undermines the trust and confidence of the public in the law enforcement officers.  Police officers have the weapons necessary to protect peace and defend themselves.  They are also empowered to employ appropriate force to protect society.  The society trusts that these weapons and this power given to the police officers will be used to protect the society and the public, most especially the ethnic and the racial minorities.  When this trust is abused by any act of employing excessive physical force or even verbal attacks, the public will lose their trust on the police officers.  The possible repercussion of this is that the public may no longer cooperate with the police. 

It must be emphasized that law enforcement officers have the license to employ force, or even deadly force if necessary, in making an arrest.   According to John C. Hall, Federal constitutional standards permit law enforcement officers to use deadly force to apprehend criminal suspects when there is probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a threat of serious physical harm to the officer or to others and if deadly force is necessary to effect the apprehension.  The public however due to high emotions fail to recognize that while there are instances of excessive use of force among some police officers it does not happen as a standard procedure among law enforcement officers.  In fact, it happens only in extreme cases when the person to be arrested continuously refuses to surrender to the law enforcement officers to the point that they become dangers to the police officers and the public. 

In conclusion, the future is bright for the law enforcement officers.  The trend is now towards an improved relationship between the public and the police department.  Efforts are now being undertaken by the state and the Federal government to incorporate the concept of Community Oriented Policing as a philosophy in the police department.  There are also efforts being made to modernize the equipment used in policing.  They are now better equipped to meet the challenges imposed upon them which is to prevent terrorism.  

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