Criminal Justice Technology in the News

Law Enforcement News

Berkeley Police Officers Opt for New Bulletproof Vest Carriers to Ease Back Pain
Daily Californian, (08/15/2017), Malini Ramaiyer
The Berkeley (Calif.) Police Department recently began giving its patrol officers the option of using their own funds or funds from their uniform allowance to purchase new external ballistic-resistant vest carriers, which also hold other equipment normally carried on a duty belt. The carriers, designed to blend with the department's uniform shirt, are touted as helping relieve back strain. Approximately half of the department's officers have already opted to purchase the carriers.
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How Wearing Radio Transmitters Helps Vulnerable People Who Wander
Sacramento Bee, (08/16/2017), Hannah Knowles
In Folsom, Calif., the police department has joined several others in the area in participating in Project Lifesaver, under which area residents can sign up to have loved ones who wander receive a GPS tracking bracelet to wear on their wrist. If individuals with Alzheimer's or developmental disabilities wander away, the devices can help police locate them.
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New SHPD Mobile App Gets Positive Feedback
The Chronicle Online.com, (8/18/2017), Julie Thompson
An app that serves as a two-way information sharing portal has proven to be a great success for the police department in St. Helens, Ore. Inaugurated in spring 2017, the app automatically uploads all department press releases for viewing by residents who have registered. It also sends push alerts straight to registered phones in the event of an emergency. Residents can send information to the department in two ways: through a "Got a Tip?" feature and through the "See and Say" option, which provides a drop-down menu allowing residents to provide automatic reports on specific topics such as abandoned vehicles and nuisance complaints.
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In a High-Tech World, Composite Sketches Still Helping Police Put a Face on Crime
Philly Voice, (08/21/2017), John Kopp
Although surveillance photos and video footage have become much more readily available, cases remain where agencies need to call on the services of a sketch artist. Even those few remaining sketch artists often have learned to incorporate technology into their techniques, however. This article profiles the work of two individuals still working in that field.
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Facial Recognition Technology Helped Lead to More Than 4,000 Arrests Since 2010, Cuomo Says
New York Daily News, (08/21/2017), Kenneth Lovett
Since its inception in 2010, New York's Department of Motor Vehicles Facial Recognition Technology Program has identified more than 21,000 possible cases of identity theft or fraud, and has led to the arrest of more than 4,000 individuals. In the months following a January 2016 software upgrade, the system has generated more than 7,000 potential cases. The software matches driver's license pictures and identifies duplicates.
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Corrections News

Incoming: Drone Drug Drop in Prison Third in a Year
WOODTV.com, (08/17/2017)
Packages containing marijuana, a cell phone and a razor blade fell from a drone onto the grounds of the Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility in Ionia, Mich., in the predawn hours of August 17. Area law enforcement officers have arrested three men from the Detroit area on charges of smuggling contraband into a correctional facility. The men face sentences of up to five years on the felony charges. Prison authorities are trying to identify the intended recipients.
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New Technology at Mahoning Co. Jail Prevents Inmates From Hiding Drugs
WKBN27, (08/17/2017), Molly Reed
The Mahoning County Jail in Youngstown, Ohio, recently implemented use of a body scanner in an effort to cut down on the amount of contraband smuggled into the facility. Although all incoming inmates are hand-searched, individuals have become more creative over the years, and this scanner will help officials find items that have been swallowed or are being held in body cavities.
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Bristol Prisoners to Get In-cell Phones and Computers
BBC, (08/18/2017)
Prison cells in Bristol, England, will be equipped with telephones and computers in the cells, meaning that inmates will no longer need to line up to use communal phones. The computers can be used to order food from the canteen or to sign up for classes, but will have no Internet access. The move is an attempt to cut down on incidents of use of contraband cell phones.
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Suicides in CA Prisons Caused by Lack of Leadership, Oversight
KPCC, (08/17/2017), Rina Palta
In California, women make up 4 percent of the prison population but account for 11 percent of prison suicides, according to a survey recently performed by the California State Auditor for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. The number of suicides in 2016 increased to 26, compared to 19 in 2015. Auditors found that in some instances, staff failed to follow protocols related to suicide risk screening.
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Lawsuit: Tennessee County Operated 'Eugenics Scheme' on Inmates
USA Today, (08/18/2017), Stacey Barchenger
A federal lawsuit filed in White County, Tenn., seeks to stop a controversial practice of giving some inmates time off their jail sentences in exchange for undergoing sterilization procedures. Working with the county sheriff, a General Sessions judge earlier this year issued a standing order offering inmates 30 days off their jail sentences in exchange for undergoing the free procedures.
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Repeat Drunken Drivers to Get Ankle Bracelets That Monitor Sweat for Alcohol
Courier-Journal, (08/16/2017), Andrew Wolfson
Individuals with repeat DUI convictions in Jefferson County, Ky, will be required to wear monitoring devices on their ankles that check their perspiration for alcohol consumption every 30 minutes. Results are automatically transmitted to a monitoring company, and those found in violation are referred to a court for potential disciplinary action. The program is already in wide use in other parts of the state.
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Using Technology to Educate Incarcerated Students
Huffington Post, (08/15/2017), Steve Olenski
Since the launch of the JPay's Lantern educational program in prisons nationwide in 2014, more than 70,000 students have used the service-controlled tablets to take online courses and earn more than 32,000 college credits. The program allows prisoners to engage with professors outside of regular class time and use the tablets to complete courses at their own pace.
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Let Prisoners Learn While They Serve
New York Times, (08/16/2017), Editorial Board
This opinion piece cites statistics that back up its position in favor of prison education programs, and praises recent New York State efforts to expand such programs.
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