Public Safety Technology in the News

Hampshire Boosts Emergency Communications
The Courier News (03/08/08), Jeanie Mayer

To improve radio communication between various police and fire departments during an emergency, the village of Hampshire, Illinois, and the Hampshire Fire Protection District recently acquired two radio units capable of interfacing with the frequencies used by different departments. This technology will allow for improved coordination of emergency responder efforts.
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/villages/831317,3_6_EL08_RADIO_S1.article

In the Year 2028
The Corrections Connection (03/10/08), Ann Coppola

The Northeast Technology and Product Assessment Committee (NTPAC) recently held its spring meeting, the purpose of which was to investigate new technologies and scenarios that may impact the field of corrections. The meeting highlighted the importance and utility of strategic planning by using the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Forward Thinking Initiative to create and analyze the potential impact that future changes might have on the field. Four new technologies were highlighted at the event, including a pair of contraband detection devices. Attendees stressed the need to promote greater collaboration between the scientific and corrections communities as a means of improving facility safety.
www.corrections.com/news/article/17986

Law Expands Texas Inmates' Access to Phones
The Dallas Morning News, (03/10/2008), Diane Jennings

Moving away from the conventional view that all contact for prisoners should be cut off during incarceration, Texas is going to begin allowing inmates the opportunity for greater access to telephones. This policy shift comes because the new belief is that an inmate's connection to family can impact recidivism. To ensure that inmates do not misuse the privilege, phones calls will be monitored and be either prepaid or collect calls only to preapproved landline phone numbers associated with particular inmates. To help regulate phone use and ensure that inmates contact only numbers associated and approved for them, the system will use "biometric identifiers" such as fingerprints or voice recognition to identify inmates and access their lists of numbers.
www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-phones_10tex.ART.State.Ed! ition1.4660486.html

State and Local Police Unite To Share Information
The Frederick News-Post, (03/11/2008), Sarah Fortney

To better serve and protect the public, agencies are partnering up to boost information sharing and communication across all levels. Law enforcement leaders in the Western Maryland region announced their plans for the recently developed Western Maryland Information Center. The center, located in Frederick, Maryland, is a consortium of local, county, State, and Federal personnel that will capture criminal information for the region and use the information for analysis to identify trends and help reduce crime. This project will not result in additional costs to Frederick city or county residents, because staff will be paid by their respective agencies and equipment to this point has been donated.
www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=72291

LexisNexis Risk and Information Analytics Group Launches Solution for Law Enforcement to Proactively Monitor Sex Offenders Across Jurisdictions
LexisNexis, (03/11/2008), Business Wire

Law enforcement has a new tool that provides automated location information on sex offenders. In support of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act and law enforcement's efforts to enforce the law, the LexisNexis Risk and Information Analytics group developed and released Sex Offender Alert. The system provides law enforcement with location information on sex offenders, including transitions between jurisdictions. With the vast amount of known sex offenders in the United States, the daunting task of monitoring their location falls to law enforcement. Alerts will notify police when a sex offender enters into the jurisdiction, and find and locate both registered and nonregistered sex offenders. This technology will be of particular use to police departments during instances of large, rapid population shifts associated with natural disasters. This massive shift provides an advantaged to offenders because of the chaos associated with the upheaval.
www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080311005382&newsLang=en

Spy-in-the-Sky Drone Sets Sights on Miami
Reuters, (03/26/2008), Tom Brown

A small unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) manufactured by Honeywell International may soon be in use by the Miami Police Department to help the department fight crime. The drones, capable of hovering and vertical take off and landing, will be used initially in the Everglades. If use of the drone is approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after testing, it would then be deployed in the urban areas of the city. With interest by the law enforcement community growing, the FAA has been developing procedures for the use of UAVs by police departments. It is hoped that the procedures would help guard against, or reduce the likelihood of, accidents involving civilians.
uk.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUKN1929797920080326

Port Neches Joins Other Area Towns in Upgrading Law Enforcement Technology
The Enterprise, (03/22/2008), Dennis Kutac

Using 2006 Port Security Grant funding, Port Neches Police will be adding laptops, night vision, mobile video, and other high-tech equipment to its list of tools to help fight crime. The laptops will help reduce the time officers spend filling out reports or performing warrant checks. For officers on the street it will provide fast access to files on record from other agencies. This wireless accessibility can also help officers receive actual images of suspects versus relying on descriptions provided over the radio. The night vision equipment can be used by the various tactical teams in resolving hostage or barricade situations that may occur at night or during instances of limited visibility.
www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19414525&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6

Traffic Tickets To Go High-Tech
FBaltimore Sun, (03/21/2008), Tyeesha Dixon

Taking on average eight to 12 minutes to hand write a ticket will no longer be an issue for the Howard County Police Department. A $48,000 grant from the State has allowed the county to start purchasing the necessary equipment so that officers can issue electronic tickets. Prior to implementation, officers had to write out tickets for each offense relating to a traffic stop. The new system will capture drivers' information once from their licenses and generate citations accordingly. Additionally, the system can assist those receiving citations by reducing time spent on the roadside, and provide the individual with a citation that is easy to read.
www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.citations21mar21,0,2450463.story