Criminal Justice Technology in the News

Law Enforcement News

Illinois to Get Tougher on Texting and Driving
NPR Illinois, (06/27/2019), Sean Crawford
Starting July 1, 2019, texting while driving in Illinois will carry a $75 fine. Previously, a first offense only carried a warning.
Link to Article

Greenwich Police and Human Services Team Up to Reduce Opioid Overdoses
Greenwich Sentinel, (06/26/2019), Richard Kaufman
Police in Greenwich, Conn., are working with the city's Department of Human Services to reach out to residents known to be struggling with drug addiction. The program's intent is to steer people toward treatment programs rather than the criminal justice system. The contact team includes two detectives and a social worker, who coordinate a meeting time with each person in a non-confrontational setting to explain options for addiction treatment.
Link to Article

New K9 at CCSO Will Play Vital Role in Internet Crime Investigations
MTN News, (06/27/2019)
The Cascade County Sheriff's Office in Montana will be using a K9 to help in electronic crime investigations. During searches, the dog can sniff out hidden electronic devices such as SD cards and laptops. A chemical found in SD cards and laptops produces an odor that the dog is trained to detect.
Link to Article

Body Cameras Approved for Berlin Police Officers
The Dispatch, (06/27/2019), Charlene Sharpe
The Berlin (Md.) Town Council has approved the policy that provides guidelines on the police department's use of body cameras. The department has been using body cameras under a pilot program. The policy provides guidelines for the use, management, storage and review of media recorded by the cameras.
Link to Article

Florida's Strengthened No Texting While Driving Law Is Now in Effect
WJCT, (07/01/2019), Bill Bortzfield
As of July 1, police can pull drivers over in Florida if they spot someone texting behind the wheel. A first-time offense carries a $30 fine. Previously, texting while driving was only enforced as a secondary offense; drivers were only cited if they were stopped for other infractions.
Link to Article

Corrections News

Volusia Jail's Tattoo Database Provides Agencies More Tools to ID
The Dayton Beach News-Journal, (06/27/2019), Tony Holt
The Volusia County Branch Jail has implemented a tattoo database, which contains thousands of images of ink signatures from inmates. The log of photos is helpful to law enforcement officers in the field because it is another tool they can use to identify a dangerous suspect, authorities said.
Link to Article