Impact of Technology on Law Enforcement
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Impact of Technology on Law Enforcement
Technology is impacting criminal justice in many ways, varying from the positive to the adverse effects. The trends offer an opportunity that improves the effectiveness of criminal prosecution. However, when the Intel of the technology gets into the wrong hands, issues begin, as it is a potential crime cause. This explains the reason for the assessment teams within the criminal justice to identify potential risks from the technology being used and identifying ways of mitigating it.
The significant positive impacts that technology has had in criminal justice include reducing crime, improving data quality, and reducing racial disparities. The use of prediction algorithms and application machines has made the identification of crimes easier. It is more efficient, like the use of body cameras and recognition features for security. Incarceration has been replaced by electronic monitoring, for example, instead of sending individuals to prison, they are allowed to stay at home but under massive surveillance (Wall, 2015). This is made possible by technology, which can take video, audio, and live images of actions as they occur.
Technology has also had its demerits on criminal justice. It has increased the number of technology-related crimes. Information technology specialists who may not have the interest of criminal justice would hack systems and manipulate for their gain. This poses a threat, mainly where all the security information depends on this technology. Some, for example, the body cameras, prevent the privacy of the police and, therefore, interfering with criminal justice.
One of the challenges forcing law enforcement is police transparency and public records (Goodison, Davis, & Jackson, 2015). Most police do not have information on emails and department phones. This transparency is what causes most corruption in the law enforcement unit.
References
Goodison, S. E., Davis, R. C., & Jackson, B. A. (2015). Digital evidence and the US criminal justice system: identifying technology and other needs to more effectively acquire and utilize digital proof.
Wall, D. S. (2015). The Internet as a conduit for criminal activity. Information technology and the criminal justice system, Pattavina, A., ed, 77-98.eferences