Criminal Justice Technology in the News

Law Enforcement News

D-8 Awarded More Than $1M for School Security Upgrades
KKTV, (02/27/2019), Jenna Middaugh
The Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 in Colorado will use a $1.1 million state grant to upgrade security cameras and radios within the district. The district has been improving school security over the past three years by implementing a districtwide radio system and adding a full-time school resource officer to every school building.
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UPD Launches Body Camera Policy for On-Duty Officers
The Montclarion, (02/27/2019), Heather Berzak
As of March 1, the Montclair State University Police Department will equip its officers with body-worn cameras to use when on routine patrol or dispatched on calls for service. Following guidelines established by the New Jersey Attorney General, the department developed a policy document that explains protocols on when and how police officers can use the cameras.
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Falmouth Police Pitch New Type of Neighborhood Watch
Cape Cod Times, (03/03/2019), Christine Legere
Police in Falmouth, Mass., are asking homeowners and businesses to register their surveillance systems to aid police in investigations. The information will be in a database and mapped out to show locations of cameras in the area of an incident.
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Texas School Safety Bill Proposes Threat Assessment Teams, More Emergency Training
Longview News-Journal, (03/05/2019)
A bill has been introduced in the Texas state senate that includes measures to improve school security. Proposals include employing mental health professionals in Texas school districts; expanding emergency response training for district employees and establishing threat assessment teams in schools. It also includes money for security equipment such as cameras.
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Corrections News

New Security Measure Added to Prevent Drug Smuggling Into Jail
WXOW, (02/21/2019)
The La Crosse County Sheriff's Office in Wisconsin has installed a new scanner in the county jail to detect contraband. The department installed the scanner to prevent newly booked inmates from sneaking in drugs or other contraband.
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Alabama Prison Enlists State Law Enforcement in Contraband Search
Montgomery Advertiser, (02/28/2019), Melissa Brown
The Alabama Department of Corrections enlisted more than 300 law enforcement officers from seven state and local organizations to track down contraband at the St. Clair Correctional Facility in Springville. The department said it also plans to use the multi-department collaboration at other major prisons in the state.
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Crime Trackers: Pima County Jail Adds Drug Sniffing Dog to the Team
KVOA, (02/28/2019), Lupita Murillo
The Pima County Jail will be adding a 15-month-old black Labrador to help detect contraband. The dog is already trained in marijuana and heroin scents; he will learn how to detect cocaine and meth in his next training course.
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An Aging Prison Population Is Straining Pa.'s Corrections Budget. Could Medical Parole Be the Answer?
Pennsylvania Capital-Star, (02/28/2019), Elizabeth Hardison
Pennsylvania Corrections Secretary John Wetzel has suggested the state create a medical parole program to allow sick and aging inmates to spend their final days outside of prison. The state's aging prison population is driving up medical costs. Pennsylvania's elderly prison population has increased from 6 percent of its general prison population in 1996 to 22 percent today, Wetzel said.
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Lubbock County Detention Center Fighting Mental Health Problem in the System
KAMC, (03/04/2019), Victoria Larned
This article discusses efforts by the Lubbock County Detention Center and the county to help people in jail with a mental health disorder. To continue reducing the number of mentally ill behind bars, LCDC said they need funding for a new data collection system and diversion centers that can treat mentally ill individuals before they ever make it to jail.
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Gov. Bill Lee Announces New Efforts to Help Tennessee Prison Inmates Successfully Re-enter Society
Times Free Press, (02/28/2019), Andy Sher
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is proposing initiatives to help prison inmates make a successful transition to the community. The proposed initiatives include supplementing mental health efforts by expanding the recovery court system and recovery court programming, and expanding higher education programming for persons imprisoned in state prisons.
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Why Even Illinois's Department of Corrections Wants to Fix the Way the State Does Electronic Monitor
NPR Illinois, (02/26/2019), Lee Gaines
This article discusses Illinois' use of electronic monitoring for individuals on mandatory supervised release, and criticisms of the program.
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Federal Government to Pay $5 Million to Settle Lawsuit by David Renz Victims
Syracuse.com, (02/27/2019), Julie McMahon
The U.S. government will pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit by the victims of David Renz, who in 2013 escaped out of an electronic ankle bracelet to murder a school librarian and rape a 10-year-old girl in Clay, N.Y. About $3.7 million will go toward a trust fund for the girl, now a teenager. The rest of the money will pay for legal fees and expenses.
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