Law enforcement has revolutionized with the new advanced technology. Despite the fact that governments cannot afford the most advanced and expensive technology, the very affordable ones have made an impact on the security status of the country. Internet, video monitoring devises, and forensic advancement are integrated in the everyday fight of crime. These additions have made crimes easier to solve and criminals easily traceable. This paper focuses on the impact that technology has had to facilitate on the easier facilitation of law enforcement. It also reviews the negative impacts of crime to the society and law enforcement.
The most basic and arguably the most common invention of technology, social media has had a role to play in law enforcement. Citizens have started using this avenue for reporting crimes as well as aiding in ongoing investigations. It has become very popular for concerned citizens who would want to keep their identity hidden for various reasons. In the past, such activity would have been impossible. In addition, ordinary citizens are able to air their grievances in the media if the law enforcers are ignorant or present themselves incapably as law officers. Thus stated, it has improved avenues for positive criticism therefore improving the quality of work done by law enforcers. Research shows that law enforcement uses social media for investigation at a staggering 62% (Gomes de Andrade 340). This is a gig gap that has been filled by this technological advancement. Internet enables hand held devices ensures that citizens are able to report crimes in a more timely and safe manner. In addition, they are able to record and even take pictures thus providing hard evidence that ensuring that justice is served.
Communication is the other aspect that has improved efforts by law enforcement to make the country a safer place for everyone. In the past, if a burglar broke into ones house and they did not have a telephone installed, it would be very hard to alert the police officers. This was the same case if one got into trouble in secluded place. However, that is a thing of the past. Whenever one is in trouble, it is very easy to dial the police hotline immediately since the greater population ones a mobile phone. This has helped saved lives due to the prompt response of police officers in the crime scene. Also, the number of crimes has decreased because the perpetrators are aware of the prompt response thus taking crimes that are fast or avoiding crime al together. This has made citizens feel more secure and confident since they know that they could call for safety in one dial.
CCTV and other video monitoring technologies have improved security in the private and public sector as well (Gomes de Andrade 350). In the recent years, governments have installed video recording devices in street lights, street lamps, and other hidden areas to record all activity taking place in the surrounding areas. This has worked marvelously since perpetrators have no idea on their location and therefore is caught committing the crime. This has instrumental in curbing street mugging and also hit and run activities (Downs 280). If the facial features are recorded, this helps track the offender and this also acts as hard evidence in court. In addition, private investors and private homes have made use of this opportunity and installed such devices in their investments and homes. Commercial places like casinos, banks, and supermarkets are the greatest beneficiaries in the private sector. In casinos, they are able to identify fraudsters who would have earlier gone unnoticed. In banks, robbers have drastically reduced since the CCTV gadgets are constantly rolling. In addition, supermarkets are now able to avoid shop lifting that was very common before this invention.
Forensic science is another major invention that has made a mark in the field of law enforcement. Every perpetrator who comes into contact with the crime scene or the victim leaves some sort of DNA if not properly protected (Johnson, Peterson, Sommers, & Baskin 200). Such evidence is not visible to the naked eye. In addition, even if evident, it requires advances biological procedures to identify the DNA of the offender save for recent new technology. This technology has helped identify any human being that leaves a biological trace in form of hair, blood or other bodily fluids that comes into contact with the crime scene. In addition, hand prints have also become a very common method of identifying offenders. New advanced technology helps isolate their DNA and catch them holding them responsible for their actions. Forensic science has helped deal with a sector that was very traumatizing and difficult in the past. Rape crimes damage the victim and impacts stigma on them thus many were not available for testimony against their offenders. However, today bodily fluids could act as hard evidence if it confirms the offender (Johnson, Peterson, Sommers, & Baskin 210). Such society unfriendly personalities have been identified and reprimanded for their offences through this invention. It has helped many victims gain closure with the knowledge that such perpetrators are behind bars and will never hurt another human being as they did to them.
Despite the huge impact made by technology in the advancement of law enforcement, there is the other side of technology that makes the job harder. It has been witnessed in the past that a greater majority of crimes are facilitated by technology. This includes internet bulling and luring, hacking, spread of deforming information about persons. In addition, due to technological advancements, if offenders have the financial ability, they are able to access areas that were inaccessible there in the past. They include safes and other storage areas that have been protected using the new and also old technology. Programmers and computer informed personnel are able to crack codes and break fire walls that protect private and even sometimes state secure information that they use for crime associated activities. Embezzlement of money through the internet has also become rampant in the present. Since the law enforcement cannot match this level of expertise, such crimes go untouched and such offenders escape the punishment they deserve.
The advanced technology has also increased the challenge of funding in this industry. After the federal government has purchased this top dollar equipment, it is the job of the police stations to maintain them. Such maintenance can be very expensive and it eats up the little funds available. It is no secret that this sector has a very limited budget and to take care of this important technology equipment, some stations are forced to cut cost that may involve lying off employees in order to meet such needs. In addition, this new technology has brought with it the challenge of new managerial techniques. The old personnel have no information on how to run the new personnel that comes with the technology and also manage funds to fit these new budgets (Downs 260). It has caused conflicts and poor job satisfaction in the areas of work affecting the functionality of both personnel and technology.
In conclusion, cutting edge technology has opened avenues that were unimaginable half a century ago. This has made an impact on the running and functioning of law enforcement thus making the world a better and safer place to be in. however, the sector needs to put more effort in educating it officers in the proper running of this facilities and also new management styles that fit this advancements.
Works Cited
Downs, Raymond. Less lethal weapons: a technologist's perspective. Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, 30. 3 (2007): 358 – 384
Gomes de Andrade, Norberto. The application of future-oriented technology analysis (FTA) to law: the cases of legal research, legislative drafting and law enforcement, foresight, 14. 4 (2012): 336 – 351
Johnson, Donald., Peterson, Joseph., Sommers, Ira., & Baskin, Deborah. Use of Forensic Science in Investigating Crimes of Sexual Violence: Contrasting Its Theoretical Potential With Empirical Realities 18. 2 (2012) 193-22
