Criminal Justice Technology in the News

Law Enforcement News

New Team of Crime Analysts Dig Deep into Databases to Help Police in Hudson Valley
Spectrum News, (06/13/2018), Ben Nandy
A new crime analysis center is providing support for investigating crimes in the Hudson Valley. The Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center in Goshen serves 65 police agencies and is connected to a state-supported network of records from police departments, motor vehicle departments, jails and the federal probation department. Crime analysts are trained on the latest social media mining tools, facial recognition software and license plate recognition software.
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Police Giving Deaf Drivers Cards to Help Them Communicate
Mysanantonio.com, (06/13/2018), Michael R. Sisak for Associated Press
The New York Police Department is giving deaf drivers information cards to help communication with police during traffic stops. The laminated visor cards have symbols that officers can point at to indicate speeding, running a red light and other common violations. The cards are being mailed out and will also be available for download on the department's website.
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Little Rock Approves New Gunshot Detection System
Texarkana Gazette, (06/12/2018), Associated Press
Officials have approved installing a gunshot detection system in a 2-square-mile area in Little Rock, Ark. The system immediately alerts police with a time stamp and geographic location when a shot is fired within range of one of the system's acoustic devices.
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Quincy City Council Approves Police Body Cameras
WGEM, (06/11/2018)
Officials have approved outfitting police in Quincy, Ill., with body cameras. The cameras record interactions with the public and can send a call for help message which shows the officer's location.
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DPS Launches New App to Report Suspicious Behavior
The Texas Department of Public Safety has a new app for the public to provide tips on suspicious activities. Filling out a confidential report with the iWatchTexas app takes less than five minutes to complete. From there, each one is reviewed by law enforcement analysts.
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Corrections News

With Idaho's Inmate Population Skyrocketing, State Mulls $439M Prison Expansion
Idaho Press, (06/12/2018), Betsy Z. Russell
Idaho corrections officials recently presented to the Board of Corrections a proposal for a $439 million prison expansion, including a new 1,510-bed state prison. The proposal is aimed at providing the 2,400 new prison beds that forecasts show Idaho will need by the end of 2022. The proposal includes that the entire new 1,510-bed prison be devoted to special needs, from infirmary beds and mental health units to protective custody, a dementia and Ahlzheimer's unit, and a relocated and expanded reception and diagnostic unit, through which every new state inmate passes for evaluation and classification.
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In Louisiana Jail, Inmate Deaths Mount as Mental Health Pleas Unheeded
Reuters, 05/31/2018
This article discusses problems with jails housing mentally ill prisoners and the deaths of several inmates that occurred in a Louisiana jail.
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