Law Enforcement Corrections Technology News Summary

NLECTC
Thursday, November 2, 2006

"Computers Will Connect Law Enforcement Agencies"
Goldsboro News-Argus (10/29/06); Williams, Lee

The Wayne County, N.C., Sheriff's Office will be soon be connected under a single computer system. This means different law enforcement agencies can look at one another's files. In addition, the system will provide officers with the chance to be more effective on the job. With the new system, officers and deputies will be able to determine if an individual has filed criminal reports previously or study what kind of crimes the individual has carried out. The same technology will be accessible in all patrol cars, although the patrol car computers will have a talk-back voice command capability. The new technology is being implemented in 20 patrol vehicles. The new system will reduce taxpayers' expenses, help lessen the workload of dispatches, and heighten officers' productivity. In addition, deputies will be able to perform photo lineups in their patrol vehicles, which will help the officer make certain that the name the offender provides is his real one when pulled over by authorities. Deputies will be able as well to connect to the Internet in their patrol cars. The reason for the new upgrades is to heighten officer visibility.
http://www.newsargus.com
/news/archives/2006/10/29
/computers_will_connect_law
_enforcement_agencies/index.shtml

"Police Have Tools To Stop High-Tech Speed Demons"
Contra Costa Times (10/29/06) P. F4; Gokhman, Roman

Drivers with radar detection technology may not be able to avoid the police as easily as they may think. Police can locate speeders by using radar, lidar, and vascar. Lidar can measure speeds and distances from 1,000 feet away and are always mounted on vehicles. Drivers can bypass a lidar by using a laser jammer. Regular jammers are banned nationwide and drivers can be charged with a felony if they are caught using one. A jammer sends out a frequency that closely resembles the one police use. "It's illegal to jam or attempt to jam a police radar," says Roy Reyer at Radarbusters. Radars work by sending out radio waves at a certain frequency at very high speeds. The only downside to radars is that the gun must be pointed at a certain vehicle for it to read the speed. Despite the new technology on the market designed to make cars invisible, law enforcement officers say the best way to dodge tickets is to drive safely.
http://www.contracostatimes.com
/mld/cctimes/news/politics/15878792.htm

"Technology Helps Police Look Through Eyes of Mentally Disturbed"
Associated Press (10/27/06); Conley, Chris

A group of Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) police officers in Memphis, Tenn., undergoing instruction on helping mentally ill people recently tried out software known as Virtual Hallucinations, which allowed the officers to hear and see what a schizophrenic individual might be experiencing, including visual hallucinations and voices. The officers wore earphones and goggles that were connected to the software. In a virtual hallucination exercise, the CIT officers were able to recognize how an ordinary bus ride might be interpreted by a mentally ill individual as a frightening event. CIT head Major Sam Cochran notes that the mentally disturbed individual is undergoing something that is highly threatening, and could be regarding a police officer as "a devil," or think the voices are instructing him to not trust the officer. Memphis' CIT was among the first of its type in the nation, starting in 1988 as a joint venture between police and mental health authorities following numerous violent situations. Since then, at least 500 other cities have implemented the model. There are around 220 Memphis officers instructed as CIT specialists, and they receive around 12,000 calls annually, on top of their regular responses to service calls. The Virtual Hallucinations technology was provided by the Memphis Police Department and additional agencies, including the Bartlett and Millington police.
http://www.commercialappeal.com
/mca/local/article/0,2845,MCA_25
340_5093941,00.html

"Police Get High-Tech Tools"
Charleston Daily Mail (WV) (10/27/06) P. P1C; Jones, Michael A.

Law enforcement agencies have now turned to high-tech equipment for better video images, which are being sent to the Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in an effort to locate suspects. The DMV can use digital photo equipment to find a match between a suspect's features and a driver's license photo in the database. The system can edit and enhance images, covert analog videotapes to digital, and zoom in on certain areas. Initially, the DMV could only compare old licenses with new ones when the digital photo systems was first used back in 1997. The equipment was upgraded last year and now images can be scanned from surveillance video into the system. Investigators plan to input possible suspects in the DMV's system. Pictures can be emailed to investigators by the DMV if police already have the suspect's name. "We don't just give them photos to play with, but for an investigation or court order when they're looking for a suspect," says Doug Thompson at the DMV. The technology has not been tested yet, so the system's effectiveness is still unknown.
http://www.dailymail.com/story
/News/+/2006102716/Police+ge
t+high-tech+tools/

"9 New Cameras Help Police Watch Cedar-Riverside Area"
Star Tribune (Minn.) (10/27/06) P. 2B; Chanen, David

The First Precinct station in Minneapolis houses an area for monitoring nine "safety cameras" placed in various locations of concern. The use of 31 cameras has enabled police officers to arrest in excess of 500 people in the downtown area. Police officials also plan to install more cameras. Police officers monitor the images captured by the camera system at the station. http://www.startribune.com
/467/story/769667.html

"City Will Use Software to Track Graffiti"
Omaha World-Herald (NE) (10/20/06) P. 8B; Burbach, Chris

The city of Omaha, Neb., has hired Graffiti Tracker to help monitor graffiti as it occurs. The company will use such tools as digital photography, global positioning satellites, and customized software to tackle the problem. City Councilman Garry Gernandt said the system, which costs roughly $18,000 annually, will help police create connections between multiple spray-paintings and identify potential suspects. The monitoring system may also help police obtain data about other crimes, according to Gernandt. "It provides the latest technology for law enforcement, and it's an additional tool we haven't had in the past," Gernandt said. "That's a good deal for the city." Graffiti Tracker President Tim Kephart said the firm is able to quickly organize the graffiti in a single place, so police can save time and concentrate on apprehending culprits. http://www.omaha.com
/index.php?u_pg=1636&u_sid=2264316

"Police Taking a Byte Out of Technology Crime"
Lima News (OH) (10/25/06); Rutz, Heather

Bought with a grant of $2,500 from the Cable Road Wal-Mart in Lima, Ohio, the tera server is helping out the city's Police Department's technology Crimes Unit. The server stores vast information files obtained as evidence and keeps them on a network to be accessed by law officials and prosecutors in a region that spans eight counties. When police acquire the hard drive of a suspected online predator, or an individual dealing in child pornography, the complete hard drive can be stored on the new server. It takes 1,000 GB to equal one terabyte, and a typical laptop might have a hard drive of 100 GB. The new server will also enable police to share files. If authorities capture an individual partaking in child pornography, for instance, they can usually trace, via computer forensics, other involved individuals. Lima launched its computer forensics lab five years ago with the Forensic Recovery Evidence Device (FRED). Another computer, the Forensic Recovery Analysis Network Computer (FRANC), was added later. http://www.limanews.com
/story.php?IDnum=31350&q=byte

"Cameras a Success for Rockford Police"
Rockford Register Star (Illinois) (10/23/06) P. 2; Curry, Corina

The Rockford Police Department in Illinois plans to expand its use of surveillance cameras to high-crime areas. The department has used cameras that provide real-time images to an officer located at the mobile command center to monitor the city's yearly On the Waterfront Festival. The officer watching the images can quickly alert officers on foot patrols to problem situations, such as fights. The cameras are installed in areas of particular concern where high volumes of people typically gather. Rockford Police Chief Theo Glover said the cameras can also help police respond to a potentially volatile situation before violence occurs. The department will expand the use of cameras to high-crime areas if it can obtain federal funds to pay for part of the investment.
http://www.rrstar.com
/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/
20061023/NEWS07
/110230027/1180

"Crime Drops After Increase in Officers"
Washington Post (10/25/06) P. B2; Partlow, Joshua

Prince George's County experienced a 15.1 percent decrease in major crimes, the biggest decline in the state of Maryland, due to an increased officer presence and new police technology. During the first nine months of 2006, homicide fell by 28 percent from 128 during the same period last year to 92 this year, rapes fell by 11.7 percent from 163 to 144, and carjackings fell by 37 percent from 565 to 356. Reported crime in the county began to drop during the last quarter of 2005, and since then, the trend has continued to strengthen. Police attributed the decline to an increased annual police budget of $217 million that allowed the department to increase its ranks from 1,346 officers last year to the current 1,393 officers. A $6.5 million increase in overtime funding has enabled the county to keep more experienced officers on the streets longer, and assigning officers to smaller beats has also made the police more effective. The county is now better able to electronically map crimes and focus on high-risk areas, and the department is also exploring license plate scanners and technologies that can detect where gunshots come from. However, the county, which is the second most populous in the state, still had the highest number of rapes, larceny theft, motor vehicle theft, and total crimes in Maryland through June.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
/wp-dyn/content/article/
2006/10/24/AR20061
02401233.html

"It's 'CSI: Pikesville' at New Police Lab"
Baltimore Sun (10/18/06); Shields, Nick

Maryland State Police recently invited the media to tour a new $30 million, 68,000-square-foot crime-scene lab that features the latest in technology. "The technology that's available to us today and the accuracy that it brings is extremely important in making cases, defining cases in court," says Col. Thomas E. Hutchins, state police superintendent. Hutchins explains that this technology helps both in convicting the guilty and absolving the innocent. The new Forensic Science Laboratory includes a spacious area for analyzing blood and other crime-scene evidence, a unit for checking objects for fingerprints, and a room to identify illegal drugs. The previous 24,000-square-foot facility did not have enough room for investigators to work, and the DNA research unit had to be located about a mile away, forcing investigators to travel between the two facilities. The DNA research unit is included within the new facility, improving communications and morale. Police agencies from throughout Maryland will be able to access the new lab.
http://www.baltimoresun.com
/news/local/bal-md.forensic18o
ct18,0,2290431.
story?coll=bal-local-utility&tra
ck=mostemailedlink

"Police to Install Street Cameras"
Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (NY) (10/26/06) P. 1B; Flanigan, Patrick

High-crime neighborhoods in Rochester, N.Y., may soon be home to up to 30 high-technology surveillance cameras in a program modeled after similar initiatives in New York and Chicago. The bulletproof cameras rotate 360 degrees and can be transported to different locations as new high-crime areas develop. They are viewed by officers on mobile monitoring units in their patrol cars or by an operator at a central location, though officials are unsure who will be assigned to the operator position. The $24,000 cameras will be purchased using $250,000 from the state Community Capital Assistance Program and $500,000 from the City Council. Police said the cameras, expected to be operational by spring, are a tool in an overall crime-fighting strategy that includes the recently activated ShotSpotter Location System, which traces the sound of gun shots and is already responsible for at least six arrests. "It's like having extra patrol officers on the street," said Mayor Robert Duffy. "This is an investment that will save lives."
http://www.democratandchronicle.com
/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006610260354

"A Way to Stop Red Light Runners"
Macon Telegraph (GA) (10/27/06)

Certain intersections in Macon, Ga., may soon be outfitted with cameras to catch motorists who run red lights. The need for cameras was demonstrated by Project SERV (Stopping Every Red Light Violation), which placed officers at busy intersections. After implementing the project in 2005, 1,800 drivers were ticketed for running red lights, compared to 481 the year before. At about $5,000 each, the cameras, which also serve as a deterrent, are more cost effective than stationing officers at intersections, and they free up police to handle other issues as well. In accordance with state law, the fines from citations issued by the cameras would drop from the current $86 to $70.
http://www.macon.com/mld/
macon/news/opinion/15857012.htm

"Analysis: 'Total Information' Lives Again"
United Press International (10/26/06); Waterman, Shaun

A computer system is being developed by the Office of the Director for National Intelligence John D Negroponte that is capable of mining great amounts of information in order to watch for terrorist planning--technology that recalls the Total Information Awareness (TIA) program. The new effort, known as Tangram, was discovered last week and has been criticized by advocates for privacy and civil liberties. "They are misdirecting resources toward this kind of fanciful, science-fiction project while neglecting the basics" of effective counter terrorism investigation, says Tim Sparapani, legislative council with the ACLU. The system is funded for $49 million in research over the next four years, and will build on earlier efforts to create "methods of...effectively searching large data stores for evidence of known [terrorist] behaviors." While intelligence officials insist that the program is within the law, similarities to TIA, which data-mined stores of information including credit-card purchases, telephone calls, and travel records, remain. Congress had cut all funding to TIA in 2003 after substantial concern arose over privacy and civil liberties implications. The Advanced Research and Development Activity, which oversaw the TIA, is also in charge of Tangram. "The administration has flat-out ignored Congress," says Sparapani. "They renamed it, retied the bow and off they went." Three contracts totaling almost $12 million have been awarded for Tangram research and development. Recipients include Booz Allen Hamilton and 21st century Technologies, both of which worked on the TIA project, and SRI International, which worked on a predecessor to TIA, known as the Genoa project. For more on TIA, visit http://www.acm.org/usacm.
http://www.upi.com/
SecurityTerrorism/view.php
?StoryID=20061025-064205-6948r

"ATF New Gun Hotline Nets First Arrest"
US Fed News (10/23/06)

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives recently launched a new hotline that allows New Orleans residents to alert law enforcement to firearms violations. The hotline led to its first arrest just 10 days after it became operational. The New Orleans Violent Crime Impact Team helped apprehend Andre Fountain after a person called the hotline with information that he was involved in drug dealing and owned firearms. Fountain is prohibited by law from owning firearms because of his status as a three-time convicted felon. The New Orleans Police Department and the Louisiana State Probation and Parole Department was also involved in investigating Fountain. Law enforcement officers discovered a firearm and crack cocaine at Fountain's home.
http//biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061020/clf079.html?.v=3

"Courthouse Considers Additional Security; Renovations To Building Should Be Enhanced By More Protection"
Des Moines Register (IA) (10/23/06) P. 1B; Walker, Melissa

A courthouse in Adel, Iowa, may receive renovations that include a $500,000 security system designed to search and restrict visitor access if Dallas County employees and judges get their way. Some of the new features in the courthouse would consist of bulletproof shields for judges, metal detectors, and X-ray machines. Nearby Des Moines and Polk County already have tight security, which requires federal courthouse visitors to walk through metal detectors and show their driver's licenses, ID cards, or employee ID before entering. Dallas County security council members are asking for a controlled entrance, more deputies, door and window alarms, and a separate elevator to transport prisoners. Supervisor Brad Golightly has admitted that he is concerned about the costs, but Chairman Mark Hanson insists more security is needed. The Dallas County courtroom has already experienced a scare this past year when a someone caused a disturbance and appeared to be a physical threat. "Alarms do not prevent somebody from becoming violent," says Sheriff Kevin Frederick. "Just because they don't have a gun or a knife, pens and pencils can become weapons." Supervisors are expected to make a decision about the requests later in the fall.
http://www.desmoinesregis
ter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2006610230330

"Chicago Fire Dept. Tests ZigBee-Based RFID System"
RFID Journal (10/11/06); Swedberg, Claire

The University of California-Berkeley's mechanical engineering department, along with the Center for Information Technology in the Interests of Society (CITRIS) developed the Fire Information and Rescue Equipment (FIRE) system in an effort to enable better communication between rescue workers. The Chicago Fire Department, which urged researchers to create the new system after the events of Sept. 11, 2001, just started testing the system this spring. The FIRE system relies on wireless sensors that use radio frequency identification (RFID) tags and can be installed in smoke detectors. The sensors can communicate where a firefighter is located, which helps fire chiefs know when firefighters should evacuate a building. The system is currently installed in some UC Berkeley buildings as well as the Chicago Fire Department. Firefighters will also be able to use an interactive floor map that displays their current location called FireEye. The system was created by UC Berkeley student Joel Wilson and comes attached to a firefighter's helmet. "This technology provides a breakthrough for safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of first responders," says Moteiv CEO Joe Polastre. FireEye may soon be installed in Chicago once it is tested.
http://www.rfidjournal.com
/article/articleview/2717/1/1/


"Picking Out Digital Image Forgeries"
Network World (10/17/06); Kabay, M.E.

Micah Kimo Johnson has developed tools that can help forensic analysts detect digital image forgeries. On October 6, Johnson gave a presentation entitled "Lighting and Optical Tools for Digital Image Forensics." The three techniques he described were illumination direction, specularity, and chromatic aberration. Illumination direction analyzes light sources in a photograph, using a mathematical approach devised by Johnson. The system can calculate the angle of incident light based on the shadows in a picture and recognize any inconsistencies. This software has been successfully built and tested. The specularity tool he is working on looks at reflective highlights in images. The example used to display this system was a picture from "American Idol," in which two contestants had been digitally imposed. He showed that the reflective parts of the photo, such as the eyes, revealed a single light source in the eyes of some people pictured and two light sources in others. The algorithm and program are still in the works for this technology. Finally, chromatic aberration uses the principles of a camera lens and Snell's law. The tool examines the natural distortion of a picture caused by a camera lens. If this distortion is not consistent throughout, then the image is most likely forged. Johnson is still perfecting this technology. While none of these tools is 100 percent effective on its own, when the three are used in concert with forensic analysis they contribute a great deal to investigations and verifications of forged images.
http://www.networkworld.com
/newsletters/sec/2006/1016sec1.html