GOVERNMENT TECHNOLOGY/Low-cost technology for public safety

Many assume law enforcement agencies routinely share crime information through advanced computer networks. The reality is, however, that most public safety information is confined to paper documents, while inter-agency data communication remains significantly underdeveloped. Because of tight budgets, most agencies still use typewriters and file cabinets, and possess few — if any — computers, much less advanced data networks.

Despite the financial challenges, local government law enforcement agencies can deploy several viable, cost-effective technology options: Web-based intranet geographic information systems (GIS), Extensible Markup Language (XML) standardization, .Net programming and universal data definitions. With planning, agencies can reap the benefits of advanced technology while avoiding high costs.

Inexpensive desktop GIS software allowing law enforcement agencies to map crimes is available. Effective mapping depicts crimes, helping officers analyze relationships between crimes and the community. Agencies can build and expand from single-user to multi-user software licenses, and they can expand by using Web-based intranet mapping services. Web-based mapping allows officers to access crime maps on remote handheld and/or laptop computers. With minimal programming and investment, agencies supplement their crime maps with electronic records so users can highlight and/or click on a map to view documents on a specific crime or set of crimes.

Intranet mapping works within both wired and wireless networks. By adding validated IP addressing across a secure network, multiple users and agencies access maps and records, coordinating multi-agency efforts as well as disaster response. Care and planning must be taken, however, to create maps that function meaningfully on the small screens of handheld devices using a bandwidth-constrained wireless network.

To allow maps to display across universal wired and wireless applications, law enforcement agencies can use XML standards to program Web-based GIS and electronic records. Some XML standards have been developed by the Global Justice Information Sharing Advisory Committee and published in the Justice Reconciled Data Dictionary (RDD 1.0). The dictionary contains approximately 300 standard data element terms that can be used to code information so that it is available to many users on multiple computer platforms.

Law enforcement agencies simplify their GIS application development by using .Net programming. .Net programming eliminates the need for technicians with specialized skills to develop maps or for map creators to use expensive proprietary programming languages. Agencies can use .Net to develop in-house GIS applications, thus avoiding expensive outside consultants.

Law enforcement agencies should use Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) standards or National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) standards to get accurate crime data for maps. UCR/NIBRS data is required for law enforcement agencies reporting crime statistics to the FBI. Unlike other crime data, UCR/NIBRS is reviewed by trained, sworn personnel before it is released. By distributing UCR/NIBRS reports on an intranet, several law enforcement agencies gain access to the data and better coordinate crime response activity.

Rapid technological progress and competition creates cheaper computer hardware and software for law enforcement agencies. Despite tight budgets, fewer reasons exist why agencies cannot turn their technological challenges into opportunities. Smarter and more effective policing does not have to be expensive.

The author is the senior analyst for the Camden, N.J., Police Department.

For more information about Camden’s crime mapping efforts, read “Crime maps improve patrols, analyses in Camden” from the October 2002 issue of American City &County.