Criminal Justice Technology in the News

Suffolk Police to Deploy License Plate Readers Amid Recent Gang Slayings in Brentwood
Long Island Press, (10/24/2016), Rashed Mian
Suffolk County, N.Y., police plan to use automatic license plate readers to help stem violent gang activity. Using a $1 million state grant, police plan to purchase and deploy at least 50 license plate readers across Brentwood, Central Islip and Bay Shore following six suspected gang-related murders that have occurred since September. The short-term goal is to use the devices to solve open cases, officials said, and ultimately "decimate" the gangs responsible for the crimes. Police believe the technology can be used as a "virtual net" encircling the perimeter of targeted neighborhoods to make it difficult for known gang members to pass through unnoticed. Since September, the department has aggressively targeted known gang members and boosted patrols in and around Brentwood.
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LMPD Says Gunshot Detection System Could Help Investigate City's Shootings
WDRB, (10/26/2016, Kyle Mitchell
Police in Louisville, Ky., want to use a gunshot detection system to improve response time and help with investigating shootings. The detection systems use a network of microphones to triangulate the sound of gunshots and provide a location to police. The department recently presented research on the systems to the Louisville Metro Council Public Safety Committee. The department would like to have a system in place within a year.
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County to Receive Federal Funds to Combat Drug Trafficking
Sun Current, (10/23/2016), Christiaan Tarbox
Five Wisconsin counties will receive federal funds to help combat drug trafficking, thanks to a special designation from a national drug control program. The counties of Anoka, Dakota, Ramsey, Washington and Hennepin were included in the Wisconsin High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area on Oct. 13. Under the program, the counties would receive future federal resources to aid their drug control efforts.
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There's a New Way to Take Down Drones, and it Doesn't Involve Shotguns
Ars Technica, (10/26/2016), Dan Goodin
A researcher has devised a way to interfere with a drone using a radio transmitter to hijack the device and take control. The original operator's remote control experiences a loss of all functions, including steering, acceleration and altitude. The hack works against any drone that communicates over DSMx, a remote control protocol for operating hobbyist drones, planes, helicopters, cars and boats. The device was presented recently at the PacSec 2016 security conference in Tokyo by Jonathan Andersson, the advanced security research group manager at Trend Micro's TippingPoint DVLab division.
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State Launches Program for Students to Anonymously Report Threats, Concerns
Casper Star Tribune, (10/27/2016), Elise Schmelzer
Wyoming students can anonymously report threats or safety concerns to law enforcement and school authorities through a new program. The students can use Safe2Tell Wyoming, a computer and phone application tip line, to report threats of violence, bullying, drug use and other issues. The program is based on the Safe2Tell program launched in Colorado in 2004.
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Donor Gives $18k for Body Cameras for Lebanon Police
Union Leader, (10/31/2016), Meghan Pierce
An anonymous donor has provided $18,000 to pay for 10 body cameras for police in Lebanon, N.H. The donation also covers accessories, hardware, installation, training and support required to integrate the cameras into police operations. The cameras will be shared by the roughly 22 officers assigned to the patrol division and other officers who may be working a uniformed patrol assignment.
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Corrections News

Less Crime, and Fewer Incarcerations
Harvard Gazette, (10/28/2016), Sibella Matthews
New York City experienced a substantial decrease in violent crime and incarcerations in an 18-year period, according to a new study. The paper, "Better by Half: The New York City Story of Winning Large-Scale Decarceration While Increasing Public Safety," was co-authored by Judith Greene, executive director of Justice Strategies, and Vincent Schiraldi, senior research fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management and a former New York City probation commissioner. The paper documents that between 1996 and 2014, the city's serious crime rate fell by 58 percent, while the jail and prison incarceration rate fell by 55 percent.
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Use of Force Simulator Demonstrated
Daily Citizen, (10/31/2016)
The Moraine Park Technical College criminal justice-corrections program recently hosted a use of force simulator demonstration for local corrections and law enforcement agencies. The simulator allows students at the Wisconsin college to respond to real-life crisis scenarios in a simulated, virtual environment. Users can hold firearms and other instruments while navigating a simulated scenario projected on a screen. Agencies viewing the simulator included correctional institutions, sheriff's departments and police departments. Security director Dylon Radtke of Dodge Correctional Institution said the simulator showcased promising features for future training and he plans to reserve the equipment to help train his staff.
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Jail Visits Are Going Away. But You Can Chat With an Inmate for 40 Cents a Minute
Miami Herald, (10/27/2016), Gwen Filosa
Monroe County jails in the Florida Keys are among the latest correctional facilities to allow only video visits with inmates. The sheriff is installing a digital system that will allow people to have virtual visits with inmates from their homes for about 40 cents per minute. It will remain free to go to a jail to visit an inmate at any of three county jails across the Florida Keys, but as of November 7, all visits will be conducted through video and must be scheduled at least eight hours in advance, according to Deputy Becky Herrin, spokeswoman for the Monroe Sheriff's Office.
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A Prison Drama Written and Performed by Prisoners
WBHM, (10/28/2016), Andrew Yeager
A new radio drama written and performed by prison inmates is airing on an Alabama radio station. "Corrections" is a health-themed drama produced by the University of Alabama at Birmingham and written and performed by inmates at the Donaldson Correctional Facility in western Jefferson County. The first episode aired recently on WJLD AM 1400.
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