Criminal Justice Conference
Technology has redefined the operations of the criminal justice system, by bringing about tremendous change which has helped the arms of the criminal justice system to conduct its duties in a more effective manner. In particularly, the use of systems such as a database system and IT policies has simplified operations by enabling law enforcement agencies to apprehend suspects using intelligent methods. And as a result of these systems, there has been a paradigm shift in how the administration of justice is handled, with this assisting in evidence matching to unearth various hidden criminal patterns.
In this, computer databases would play a central role of storing and analyzing hidden patterns which can unearth criminals associated with a crime in a given area. In many instances, the criminal justice system relies on database systems to perform intelligence analysis that help analyze different attributes of crimes in order to match a potential victim to a criminal. In addition to this, database systems basically being structures able to accommodate and store multiple information entries (Pratt, 2008), have helped detectives to carry out their duties on centralized platforms in order to analyze criminal information.
In this, a repository of data containing thousands of information of potential crime suspects can be analyzed in the shortest time possible, accessed simultaneously, in real-time by various sparsely located law enforcement officers, a concept that has redefined criminal profiling for the betterment of the community. In this, global law enforcement agencies such as Interpol can easily apprehend criminals across the globe by scanning their profiles, tracking their whereabouts and apprehending them to help bring justice in such cases. As database systems play a central role in organizing criminal data, computer technology also helps a great deal.
Computer technology, in broader terms helps law enforcement agencies to design, develop and
integrate systems in order to allow various organs within the law enforcement to communicate and to share information.
Part of computer technology that helps in the above is a computer system designed to perform various roles, such as synthesizing and analyzing data which is a crucial stage for unearthing hidden patterns of crime that cannot be discovered in a literal manner. This system uses artificial intelligence which facilitates the analysis, compares and draws a conclusion based on the large sets of stored data (“The benefits of criminal justice data: Beyond policing”, 2015), which makes it easier to apprehend criminals. One of the benefits of computer technology is having online platforms that can store data online where law enforcement officers can synthesize data from their locations.
As the two function together, policies also play a role in safeguarding criminal data in terms of how given procedures and roles can maintain the integrity of criminal data. In large law enforcement agencies, polices help guide the investigation process where it helps bring to books criminals. In such, computer polices can be programmed to allow only given people access to sensitive criminal data, especially to investigators in charge (IIC). On the other hand, some agencies have policies which help them store criminal data for long term until a given criminal proceeding is complete and justice given to the affected people. This helps to maintain impartiality in the investigation process thereby ensuring that criminals are apprehended and brought to book despite how lengthy their cases may be. In the above efforts, there are some
database systems and identification tools that are being used to assist law enforcement agencies
in their work. These include the finger print analysis DNA database and inmate classification system.
Fingerprint analysis DNA database
This is a database that helps to analyze given stored DNA records to help identify criminals involved in crime by analyzing sample evidence collected at the crime scene (Coyle, 2008). This technology started way back in 1985 as an immigration tool with its first use being in deportation and assessment of a crime case which involved a rape incident that occurred in 1987. Its use has since evolved becoming a game changer in the investigation process. It is administered by law enforcement agencies in conjunction with government to help apprehend suspects for the sake of justice to the beloved families. The system works by linking fingerprints based on collected samples, and then maps the same to a suspect’s profile whose samples were collected at the scene of crime.
Inmate classification system
An inmate classification system assesses inmate risks based on some characteristics upon admission of a criminal into a correctional facility (May, 2008). It does this by considering the inmate criminal history and takes into consideration other attributes such as the current crime and other confinement issues (Carlson & Garrett, 2008). Its history dates back in 1983 where it was designed in first three states of Connecticut, Colorado and Washington, with these serving as pilot states during its initial launch. In 1998 and early 2000, the classification system was implemented after an internal evaluation was successfully conducted on the system’s ability to help in the internal management of inmates. As it became effective in administration purposes, it
Was publicized to help various state correctional facilities implement and use it. In the current era, there has been significant use and adoption of the system which has changed the way
custody decisions are made. It is administered by jail or correctional management in order to establish and implement appropriate housing plans which assists in the overall program management within a correctional establishment.
References
Coyle, H. M. (2008). Nonhuman DNA typing: Theory and casework applications. Boca Raton: CRC Press/Taylor & Francis.
Carlson, P. M., & Garrett, J. S. (2008). Prison and jail administration: Practice and theory. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Pub.
May, D. C. (2008). Corrections and the criminal justice system. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Pub.
Pratt, P. J. (2008). The concepts of database management. Boston, Mass: Thomson Course Technology.
- S. (2015, May 1). The benefits of criminal justice data: Beyond policing. Retrieved May 01, 2016, from https://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2015/05/01/the-benefits-of-criminal-justice-data-beyond-policing/