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Technology and Communication

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Technology and Communication
Even though technology is growing and can create imperfections in databases, technological advances will allow our law enforcement to work more efficiently. The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) can find a single fingerprint from a massive database of fingerprints, and Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) are powerful computerized tools in law enforcement vehicles.
Technological advances will allow our law enforcement to work more efficiently. There are many technological advances being used by our law enforcement agencies today. With the implementation of these specialized databases, officers can identify a criminal within minutes versus the latent fingerprints used in the 1980s. These systems allowed law enforcement officials and officers to connect easily directly to other databases across the county, state, and country. According to University of Phoenix, Report Writing for Criminal Justice Professionals (2011), communication technology has advanced to a point where the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are working together to store all fingerprints for criminals, to include misdemeanor offenders. As part of the teamwork between the NCIC and FBI, a major defense contractor is designing new equipment. This new equipment will allow law enforcement officers the ability to check fingerprints and mug shots from any vehicle that is equipped with the Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs).
MDTs are powerful computerized tools in public transit vehicles such as law enforcement vehicles. MDTs were developed in the early 1980s and were anchored to the vehicle for safety reasons. The device was mounted to be ergonomic for the user. The initial purpose of the MDT was to dispatch direct messages to vehicles. In the late 1980s, notebooks were introduced. In the early 1990s, satellites were launched using global positioning systems (GPS) allowing the vehicle's location to be mapped automatically. Also, a mobile data network of nearly 5,000 devices was started. Through trial and error, these systems have developed into essential tools for the law enforcement officers. They are installed in the law enforcement vehicle and connected to various other databases that streamline communication between different agencies. MDTs are used worldwide in law enforcement vehicles. MDTs have developed into modern, intelligent devices, notebooks, and pen-based computers. The purpose of the MDT is for the law enforcement officer to have the ability to create a complete report in the field. Completing the report in the field reduces the need for additional data input personnel to input all the information into a separate system at a law enforcement facility. Completing the report electronically eliminates issues with hand-written reports, paper overloads, and clerical errors. New functions for MDTs are being developed all the time. The future of MDTs will include such things as voice dictation software that can take dictation at approximately 70 words per minute. In addition, digital cameras will be integrated into the notebook and pen-based computer systems. According to "Computerization in the management of the criminal justice system, Mobile data terminals: Past, present, and future" (1995), the future will allow an officer to carry his MDT, be in communication with his radio, have cellular phone capabilities, and send faxes all from his Mobile Data Terminal. The technology to incorporate all of these systems to work together will be an enormous asset to field officers allowing them to have real-time images in the field. MDTs in Cheyenne, WY, are outfitted with a high-definition camera that can capture offenses on film. These MDTs have real-time wireless capabilities to upload data over networks to police databases. They are also working on the introduction of map-based tracking and advanced-display updates to manage officers when responding to a call ("Thinkstream", 2013). MDTs work hand-in-hand with the various other databases such as the AFIS system.
Another important reason technological advances will allow our law enforcement to work more efficiently is because AFIS can find a single fingerprint from a massive database of fingerprints. This system is not nearly accurate enough to determine fingerprints for court cases. However, this system sorts through millions of fingerprints in the database to find a list of the most likely matches. The AFIS database allows the "electronic sending and receiving of fingerprint images through a planned automated image-retrieval system, as well as automated latent prints from a 20-million-print database" (University of Phoenix, 2011, p. 283). AFIS is a massive step in the right direction from the earlier latent-print system. Latent prints are either from how crime investigators and law enforcement collected prints from the scene of a crime and transferred them to paper or how the suspect was fingerprinted on a fingerprint card. These were referred to as latent prints or ten-print cards. Before AFIS, it was much harder to match fingerprints of crimes that were not locally committed. The FBI worked with the NCIC to update AFIS. The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) was updated to the Next Generation Identification program (NGI). This updated system is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This system provides fingerprint searches, to include latent fingerprints. It also has the capability of electronic image stage and the exchange of fingerprints with other agencies. This new system includes "criminal histories; mug shots; scars and tattoos; physical characteristics; aliases, and military personnel ("The FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation", 2014). NGI is the largest criminal fingerprint database in the world, with prints of more than 73,000 known criminals and terrorists. In addition, the final increment of this update was put into place in September 2014. Although AFIS, NGI, and MDTs are needed in today's law enforcement field, these technological advances come at a price. The computer does not replace the human inputting the data into any database. And, with manual input, there can always be data errors. In law enforcement, any minute error can cause a criminal to be found not guilty of a crime that he or she committed. Computers will never replace the human ability to relate to and interact with society. Also, technology will not change how law enforcement sees a crime or evidence of a crime. Another downside to technological advances is the cost. For any specialized advancements, the cost is one of the major factors in the operation of any new system. The most important cost is the people needed, not the actual computers. There are two things that drive the increased use of computers. They are the managing the flood of data, and the need to cut the expenses of getting, keeping, and using it. As stated earlier, with any new technological advances, there is the preliminary expense of inputting data to build up a database as well as the cost of personnel necessary to continue the data inputting process.
In conclusion, although technology is growing and can create imperfections in databases, technological advances will allow our law enforcement to work more efficiently for two main reasons. MDTs are powerful computerized tools in law enforcement vehicles. Also, AFIS can find a single fingerprint from a massive database of fingerprints. These technological advances are needed in communicating effectively in the criminal justice system, but everything comes with a cost.

References
AFIS Fingerprint System. (2010). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v =oDDR7iGfulQ
Monopoli, D. S., (1995, April), pg. 289-294. Computerization in the management of the criminal justice system, Mobile data terminals: Past, present, and future. Symposium conducted at the meeting of the Ministry of Justice, European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, Netherlands.
The FBI, Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2014). Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/fingerprints_biometrics/iafis/iafis
Thinkstream. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.thinkstream.com/wordpress/data-interoperability/new-mobile-data-terminals-with-map-based-tracking-improve-policing/
University of Phoenix. (2011). Report writing for criminal justice professionals. Retrieved from University of Phoenix, CJA304 - Interpersonal Communications website.

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