Criminal Justice Technology in the News

Law Enforcement News

Manatee 911 Center Will Soon Be Able to Find You Via Your Cell Phone
Bradenton Herald, (06/26/2018), Emily Wunderlich
Manatee County (Fla.) Public Safety will begin using RapidSOS technology to assist its dispatchers in pinpointing the location of cellular callers after a new iOS update is released in October. More than 75 percent of all calls to the dispatch center come from cell phones.
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'Crisis Management Classroom' at WT Hopes to Help Save Lives
KRTE9, (06/26/2018), Nicolette Perrone
West Texas A&M University is implementing the same software used in the college's virtual emergency operations center internet (VEOCI) for instruction in its Education Credit Unit Crisis Management Classroom. In addition to training students enrolled in the education curriculum in scenario-based instruction using the software, the school is making the training available to local first responders.
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Ballistic Vest Saves the Life of Arizona Border Patrol Agent
BodyArmorNews.com, (07/02/2018), Scott Burton
An Arizona Border Patrol agent checking agency sensors near Arivaca in late June was shot, with his ballistic-resistant vest stopping one of the shots. The shooting occurred in Chimney Canyon approximately 10 miles from the border, and the agent, who is a trained paramedic, treated his own wounds before seeking help.
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Richmond Launches Website to Track Active Emergency Calls as Alternative to Encrypted Police Radio Traffic
Richmond Times-Dispatch, (07/02/2018), Ali Rockett
The city of Richmond, Va., and Henrico and Chesterfield counties recently began encrypting their radio communications and at the same time, offering a live feed of police calls for residents who formerly monitored police radio calls. The feed is refreshed every 45 seconds, and calls remain on the feed as long as they are open.
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LA Wallet - Louisiana's First Digital Driver's License App
KALB.com, (07/03/2018)
The state of Louisiana has released LA Wallet, an app that will allow drivers to display their driver's license digitally whenever stopped. The app, designed by the Louisiana State Police, the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), is the first digital driver's license app in use in the nation.
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Rockford Police Grant Seeing Results for Domestic Violence Victims
23WIFR, (07/09/2018), Courtney Bunting
The police department in Rockford, Ill., is using federal funds to distribute cell phones to domestic violence victims. The department has seen an increase in calls requesting assistance using the phones, including 10 in the month of June alone.
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Police Using New Devices to Gauge Distance Between Cars and Bicycles
MLive.com, (07/10/2018), Sasha Zidar
The police department in Grand Rapids, Mich., is one of two in the country testing a new device mounted on patrol bicycles that will measure the distance between a passing car and a bicyclist. The pilot is part of a federal research project aimed at improving safety for bicyclists on streets.
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Corrections News

Just How Transparent Can a Criminal Justice Algorithm Be?
Slate, (07/03/2018), Stephanie Wykstra
Due to the objections put forward in a June 6 hearing, the Pennsylvania Conference on Sentencing has delayed a vote on an algorithm proposed as a method of reducing incarceration by predicting an individual's risk to public safety. Opponents of the measure are concerned the algorithm's use would increase racial disparities in sentencing.
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DOC Tests Virtual Reality as Inmate Training Tool
KTVA, (07/09/2018), Liz Raines
The state of Alaska is testing use of a virtual reality tool to train inmates for job interviews and other challenges they will face on release. Alaska faces a number of unique challenges, including seasonal affective disorder and vast geographic distances that hamper individuals' ability to find employment.
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Thinking Outside the Cell: Software Cuts Recidivism Among Texas' Mentally Ill
The Crime Report, (07/09/2018), Laura Binczewski
Using software created by HarrisLogic, a Missouri-based technology and clinical services company, Dallas County, Texas, is successfully diverting mentally ill individuals to effective treatment programs rather than into the corrections system. The technology allows sharing of information about mentally ill individuals among law enforcement, the courts and health care providers.
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Charging Ex-offenders 'Administrative Fees' Means Big Pain for the Poor and Little Gain for Counties
Los Angeles Times, (07/09/2018), Anne Stuhldreher
Individuals often are assessed steep administrative fees when they leave the criminal justice system. In Los Angeles, ex-offenders can rack up monthly probation fees, court report fees and more, with total fees possibly approaching $1,000 per month. The city is considering eliminating such fees and forgiving existing debt as a step toward reducing recidivism rates.
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Life on a Bracelet: GPS Monitoring an 'Invisible Fence,' Chance to 'Re-evaluate'
Wisconsin State Journal, (07/03/2018), Chris Rickert
Dane County, Wis., is using a GPS monitoring program to help reduce the jail population, decrease incarceration rates among people of color and emphasize treatment rather than punishment. Interviews with participants and some data indicate that GPS can promote positive outcomes, but some researchers say its effectiveness is questionable.
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Staffing Concerns Taking Toll on Missouri Prisons
News Tribune, (07/07/2018), Jeff Haldiman
A July 4 inmate protest at Missouri's Tipton Correctional Center is just one of several this year that apparently are linked to restrictions in privileges due to staff shortages. No officers have been attacked or injured in the protests, but throughout the states, staff are forced to carry heavy overtime burdens as more than 700 positions remain vacant. The state is actively trying to fill the vacant positions.
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Decatur-based Tech NonProfit to Teach Coding Classes to Local Female Inmates
Decaturish, (07/03/2018), Ellie Ritter
Nonprofit Code/Out is teaching classes in coding to female inmates in Georgia's prisons as part of an effort to increase post-incarceration employment and reduce recidivism. Code/Out is attempting to recruit other organizations into a coalition that will seek to open pathways to employment for inmates who have completed the training.
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