Criminal Law
After the 9/11 terrorist attack, the countries all over the world have implemented improved security policies. One of these enhancements involves information management that has been introduced in the law enforcement environment to deter crimes in the community. According to Maras (2012), the information management within the law enforcement agencies will require mass registration measures such as the use of biometric IDs, licenses and passports to assist the police in arresting these criminals. The idea of using data storage can be contained in a small chip that will be able to provide the passport information of a suspect and a digital photo that for identification purposes inside the airports. In addition to these, the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System or “NSEERS” has been an efficient means to hunt down international terrorists and other offenders who pose a threat to national security and public safety. Maras (2012) has identified the HUMINT (human intelligence) system which serves as the intelligence scheme with the help of informers and filtration of the some terrorist organizations. This is in collaboration with the SIGINT (signal intelligence) which is an instrument that has the capacity to sense transmissions released by broadcast systems, radar, communications, visual surveillance and wiretapping activities of the wanted offenders. Data and information dissemination has become easy using these facilities.
The impact of information systems in the criminal justice system will improved the performance of law enforcement agencies including the police and the courts. These modern facilities are helpful in the preservation of computer-stored data and electronic communications data that will be used in tracking down terrorists and criminals all over the world. The data library in the law enforcement agencies is considered a reasonable means to keep a domain of the information and characteristics of offenders because data can be promptly delivered to the requesting law enforcement agencies.
Data storage and retrieval principles shall include information pertaining to text, , demographic information, media files, historical data of terrorists and criminals, geographic location information, and any other data that may be useful to the law enforcement agency. These measures will strengthen individual data storage for each of criminal that can later on be released immediately to the authorities. It also bears stressing that the data storage must be guarded in utmost care to preserve the confidentiality of any classified information. There must be a policy implemented that will state that no data should be released to any requesting party that does not provide timely notification to the data owner. In addition, there must be an affirmative authorization by the head of the law enforcement agency before any data is released. For other classified information that shall involve national security, there must be an official order which allows the release of information by the authorized court with has jurisdiction over the data to safeguard the data.
The use of technology is an efficient means to deter crimes and strengthens cooperation within the international community. The use of electronic surveillance and data storage will serve as an investigatory technique to prevent future crimes. However, it is imperative that the authorized persons who have access to these data banks must carry-out technical, administrative, and procedural actions in order to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of law enforcement data. Overall, the data collected through the use of the modern technology will become effective tools to enforce orders, policies, procedures, rules, and regulations among law enforcers.
References
Cole, G. F., Smith, C. E DeJong, C. (2012). The American System of Criminal Justice, 13th ed.
California: Cengage Learning.
Dyson, W. E. (2011). Terrorism: An Investigator's Handbook, 4th ed. Anderson Publishing:
Waltham, MA.
Maras, M. H. (2012). CounterTerrorism. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Peak, K. J. (2010). Justice administration: Police, courts, and corrections management, 6th ed.
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
