Law Enforcement

NYPD pilots GPS darts, autonomous patroller and reintroduces robot dog

An autonomous security robot, GPS-enabled projectiles that attach to fleeing vehicles and the agile DigiDog are helping transform public safety in New York City.

A mobile-first approach enhances police operations

With mobile devices tapping into its police-only internet, the Lenexa Police Department can log and share data quicker as well as track crime trends and officer locations for more efficient police responses.

Resident data profiles trigger targeted emergency response

First responders can save time and resources when they have access to resident information such as existing medical conditions or their home layout.

Justice launches $8M smart policing grant program

State, local, tribal and campus law enforcement agencies can apply for funds to develop, implement and test new technologies that support community violence intervention and promote information sharing and data transparency.

How blockchain can improve digital evidence collection and collaboration

Blockchain offers an immutable chain of custody that guarantees data integrity, prevents fraud and provides a transparent, auditable system of record for digital assets related to investigations.

Criminal justice algorithms still discriminate

Algorithms built upon messy, subjective and discriminatory data can replicate or even amplify bias that disproportionately harms marginalized communities.

Public safety data officer wants to break silos, make data more transparent

Better use of data can help the business community work with the city to reduce crime, according to the Greater Baltimore Committee’s new public safety data officer.

In search of better criminal justice data

The Biden administration wants to know how data can be used to deliver more equitable policing.

How video evidence is presented in court can hold sway in cases like the beating death of Tyre Nichols

Video surveillance footage may help courts better judge past events, but viewers can still be influenced by their own biases and even the way video is presented, an expert says.

Platform streamlines sharing, analysis of criminal justice data

The Justice Counts initiative is developing a cloud-based portal to address the long-standing lack of standardized, accessible criminal justice metrics.

Is it forensics or is it junk science?

Dubious forensic techniques have spread throughout the criminal justice system for decades. Here’s what ProPublica has learned about junk forensic science techniques and how they proliferate.

Police tech requires better trained officers, more cybersecurity

State governments should also build in more oversight around data collection and privacy, according to researchers at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation.

Portable gunshot detector senses firearms’ sound and flash

The system uses the sound and flash of the fired gun to identify and validate each shot, reducing response times and false positives.

Efficient public safety demands evolving tech

Modern cloud, mobile and data analysis tools are key to streamlined, professional police work, a new survey found.

Algorithm analyzes escort ads to detect human trafficking

Researchers have developed an algorithm that identifies similarities in escort advertisements, which often indicates trafficking behavior.

What is Fog Reveal? A legal scholar explains the app some police forces are using to track people without a warrant

Law enforcement use of Fog Reveal puts a spotlight on that loophole between U.S. data privacy law and electronic surveillance law.

House bill limits police use of facial recognition

The legislation would place “strong limits” on the technology’s use, provide transparency to those harmed by it and ensure there are annual assessments of its accuracy.