Information Technology: Police Databases

Hey guys, so I had to do this research paper about Police Databases for my IT class. I also have to post it on my google blog. So I am just going to put it up word for word here!

Introduction

The topic of this research paper is police databases. A database is an organized collection of related information that can be accessed by a computer. Police databases are a form of information sharing in the field of information technology in which law enforcement agencies from across the country can input data into a specific database and retrieve other information related to their input, (Pike, 2008). Police use multiple different databases to track and store information on criminals. There are DNA and fingerprint databases, as well as motor vehicle databases. There are also local, state, and federal databases, which can limit the amount of information one can access, (Pike, 2008). This paper will explain the background of police databases, the potential benefits they have on law enforcement, a few obstacles in the way of achieving perfection, and some further required research to fully understand the topic.

Background

Law enforcement agencies have used computers since the 1970’s but were reluctant to use them for more than basic functions, thinking the technology was just too new and too difficult to learn. Despite the fact that databases had been around since the early 1960‘s, they were nearly non-existent in the criminal justice field. In 1975, the first computerized fingerprint reader was installed in the Federal Bureau of Investigations, but it wasn’t until 1979 that the automatic fingerprint identification system, or AFIS was developed. This was a huge step in information technology. This system allowed for any police department to send in fingerprint readings to a collective information sharing database for a possible criminal match, (Foster, 2008).

By 1993, over 90 percent of all police departments were using computers for increasingly sophisticated purposes. The development of the National Crime Information Center in 1991 spurred the switch to automated databases. The NCIC was proof that agencies from all over the country could come together and share information. At the time, this particular database contained a list of known fugitives, stolen property, and misplaced persons, (Foster, 2008). Police departments could request information from the NCIC which was run by the FBI or provide more information on something already in the database. And all of this could take place on a computer. They would no longer have to send requests by mail. The officer merely signs into his departments network with a password provided by the FBI, this would give him or her access to database. Form there, the officer inputs a single piece of information such as a name, or alias, and all of the known information on that subject appears. The newest version of the NCIC was put online on July, 11, 1999. It now contains an exhaustive amount of information from wanted persons, to persons with connections to organized crime syndicates, as well as stolen property lists and known terrorists, and it is constantly being updated, (Pike, 2008). But the NCIC is not the only police database. There are thousands of local databases used by individual cities and towns, as well as state databases that contain information within a specific state, and they each have great benefits and downfalls.

Potential Benefits

There are many potential benefits for law enforcement agencies that use police databases, including more effective crime solving, faster crime solving, and helping solve closed case crimes. Police databases help police solve crime more effectively than ever before. By using the DNA databases at the FBI, forensic police can match criminal DNA and prove the guilt of a suspect or prove the innocence of one. The same goes for fingerprint databases. In Maryland alone, their DNA database has led to over 100 arrests including “13 for murder, 68 for rape or a sex offense, one for child abuse, one for assault and 18 for burglary” (Holmes, A3). Before the advent of police databases, it may have taken months for a detective to investigate a crime, go through all of the necessary procedures to attain information, and even then he or she may not have been able to solve the crime. Now, instead of having a detective investigate every aspect of someone’s life by asking questions and doing hands on research, all they have to do is type in someone’s name or license plate number into a database and they will have all of the most accurate information on that person they need. And by solving these cases, the police have gotten criminals off of the streets and convicted them, making the world a safer place, (Gavin, 2010). Databases not only benefit the law by making law enforcement officials more efficient, but it also helps police solve crimes faster than ever before.

Whereas it might have taken weeks or even months to get DNA or fingerprint analysis’ back from the FBI headquarters, police now have their own databases to cross reference their data. Now it may take only minutes for investigators to get accurate results. In Albany, a new police database “will help police get information in "real time" that in past years would have taken days to receive -- if at all”(Gavin, 2010). Because police are receiving information as it is being processed, they often find out about crime as it is happening. This allows police to react faster to possible threats and prevent more crime. However, most local databases only cover the data given within a certain area, such as the state. And so if there is a DNA match in the next state over, the database will not come up with a match. John Riegert of the DCJS recalls an incident in which a piece of evidence was cataloged in Ravena’s database that lead to the arrest of an individual in Buffalo, (Gavin, 2010). This was possible because the information was on the New York police database, but if the information had been inputed into the New Jersey database, then the police in Buffalo would not have known to arrest the suspect. This problem is solved, however, by still having a federal database such as the National Crime Information Center.

Another potential benefit of this new information technology is the ability to solve cold cases, or cases that have never been solved for lack of evidence. Due to the fact that the police databases store things such as DNA and fingerprints from many years ago, if a criminal commits another crime at a later date and leaves evidence, when the police run the data through the database, the old DNA will be a match and the police will know who committed the crime from before.

Further Required Research

Although there are many possible benefits to police databases, there are also some things to look out for, such as misuse of the technology. If police databases are used by the wrong people there could be a lot of harm done, as the databases contain very personal information about pretty much everyone, (Koch, 2008). An interesting topic to research further would be what type of security police databases have, and what are some possible outcomes of misuse of the system. Is there a chance that all of our most personal information is at risk of being leaked? Are there other problems with police databases? It seems to be a very effective system, but are there glitches? Is all of the information in the databases accurate?

Another possible research topic would be other types of databases in other professions. While police use extensive databases filled with information on criminals, do other businesses or professions use databases? Also, what other types of innovative technology do police use? Information technology, especially, is a useful tool for police who must always be in constant contact with dispatch, other officers, and their bosses. They must have extensive technology that is the top of the line.

Conclusion

In conclusion, police databases are a revolutionary innovation in information technology and in the field of Criminal Justice. Although there are some hurdles that must be faced to bring the technology to perfection, such as limitations on how far geographically a database can cover, the potential benefits of using this tool far out weigh any issues. By making police more effective, faster, and giving them the ability to solve cold cases, police databases have a strong future in law enforcement.

Here is my works cited page for all you losers who want to do further research...yes, I'm talking to you...

Works Cited

CRIMINAL DATABASE NIPS FUGITIVES AT BORDER. (Anonymous, 2005). Organized Crime Digest, 26(16), 2. Retrieved September 29, 2010, from Criminal Justice Periodicals. (Document ID: 950434851).http:// mutex.gmu.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb? did=950434851&Fmt=3&clientId=31810&RQT=309&VName=PQD

Although the author is anonymous, the information came from a public magazine source. It is also current, within the last 5 years. The article gives an example of how police databases have helped law enforcement which makes it relevant to my topic. It is objective facts, not opinion.

Foster, R and Associates. (2009). History of Police Technology. Hi Tech Criminal Justice. Retrieved from http://www.police-technology.net/id59.html.

This website was supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice and although the department does not recognize any position the author makes, it is still a valid source. It is a public site and the last time it was updated was 2009 which makes it current. The article provides a history of police technology which is relevant to my paper.

Gavin, R. (18 August). Database is crime-fighting tool. McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Retrieved September 29, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Dateline. (Document ID: 2114370581). http://mutex.gmu.edu:2048/ login? url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb? did=2114370581&Fmt=3&clientId=31810&RQT=309&VName=PQD

The News Tribune is a very public newspaper, which gives the article reliability. The article is from this year, so it is current news. The article explains how a new police database works, which is related to my topic, so it is valid. The article also contains quotes from police officials, giving it authority. It is objective fact, not opinions.

Holmes, M.. (2010, January 30). DNA Database Brings Down Bad Guys. Afro - American (5 Star Edition), p. A3. Retrieved September 29, 2010, from Ethnic NewsWatch (ENW). (Document ID: 1966026771). http://mutex.gmu.edu: 2048/ login?url=http://proquest.umi.com.mutex.gmu.edu/pqdweb? did=1966026771&sid=4&Fmt=3&clientId=31810&RQT=309&VName=PQD

This article is from a predominant African American Newspaper out of Baltimore making it a public source. It covers the topic of DNA databases in the D.C. area and gives specific statistics of how it has helped catch criminals. The article was published this year, giving it relevance. It also contains information and quotes from state officials, giving it authority and therefore validity. It is objective fact, not opinion.

Koch, J. (6 August, 2008). Penalties for potential database misuse range from small to severe. McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Retrieved September 29, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Dateline. (Document ID: 1526105171). http://mutex.gmu.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=1526105171&sid=5&Fmt=3&clientId=31810&RQT=309&VName=PQD

The News Tribune is a large newspaper out of Washington State. It is a very public source. The article is from 2008 which means it is current. The article discusses potential misuses of police databases, giving my paper a balanced argument. The article is also factual, not opinion.

Kwiatkowski, M. (17 September). Region law enforcement relies on high-tech tools of the trade. McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Retrieved September 29, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Dateline. (Document ID: 2140300001). http:// mutex.gmu.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb? did=2140300001&sid=5&Fmt=3&clientId=31810&RQT=309&VName=PQD

The News Tribune is a large newspaper out of the state of Washington which means it is a very public source. The article was published on September 17th, 2010 which makes it extremely current and relevant. The article contains information on DNA databases and how it has benefited the local law enforcement. The author received her information straight from the region police.

Pike, J. (2008). National Crime Information Center. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved from http://www.fas.org/irp/agency/doj/fbi/is/ncic.htm.

This web page is an official government site, so it has authority as well as being a public source. The site contains all information about the NCIC, the largest federal police database so it is relevant to my paper. The last time it was updated was 2008, so it is considered fairly current. All information provided is factual and not opinionated.

Tinley, J. (3 April). BIG BROTHER. McClatchy - Tribune Business News. Retrieved September 29, 2010, from ABI/INFORM Dateline. (Document ID: 2000592101). http://mutex.gmu.edu:2048/login?url=http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?

did=2000592101&sid=6&Fmt=3&clientId=31810&RQT=309&VName=PQD

The News Tribune is a large newspaper, so it is a very public source, making it very reliable as an authority on the subject. The article was posted this year, so it is a current news source. The article contains information on a new technological tool used by law enforcement, making it relevant to my paper. The information is all factual, making it a valid source.

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