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IMPACT AND USE OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY BY THE POLICE

NCJ Number
56830
Journal
COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 10-20
Author(s)
K W COLTON
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
RESULTS OF REPORTS ON CASE STUDIES AND SURVEYS ARE PRESENTED TO PROVIDE INSIGHTS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT OF POLICE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SOCIETY.
Abstract
OVER THE PAST DECADE, THERE HAS BEEN A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN THE USE OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY BY U.S. POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THE GROWTH, HOWEVER, HAS BEEN AT A SLOWER RATE THAN PREDICTED IN THE EARLY 1970'S. FURTHER, WHEN COMPUTER APPLICATIONS EXTEND BEYOND ROUTINE USES TO RESOURCE ALLOCATION OR WHEN USED AS A TOOL FOR DECISIONMAKING, RESULTS OF THE TECHNOLOGY OF DATA HAVE BEEN MIXED. MOST ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE COMPUTER ARE MADE ON THE GROUNDS THAT TOO MUCH MONEY IS CURRENTLY BEING SPENT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT THE BENEFITS JUSTIFY THE COSTS. HOWEVER, STUDIES SHOW THAT IN MANY ROUTINE APPLICATIONS, SUCH AS USE OF CRIMINAL STATISTICAL FILES, BENEFITS CAN JUSTIFY COSTS. ALTHOUGH SUCCESS VARIES, COMPUTER EFFICIENCY MAY CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AS TECHNOLOGY BECOMES MORE SOPHISTICATED AND DEPARTMENTS IMPROVE IN HANDLING THE ORGANIZATIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS WHICH ACCOMPANY THE INTRODUCTION OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE. IN ADDITION, THE COMPUTER MAY BE OF USE IN RESOLVING SUCH QUESTIONS AS HOW THE OFFICER'S TIME IS BEING SPENT AND IDENTIFYING THE BASIC TASKS OF POLICE. THE GREATEST STRENGTHS OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO ITS GREATEST WEAKNESSES. COMPUTERS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO AID IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACTIVITIES THROUGH RAPID COMMUNICATION OF ACCURATE AND COMPLETE INFORMATION. HOWEVER, IF IMPROPERLY USED, CONTROLLED, AND PLANNED, COMPUTER USE MAY RESULT IN UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES, WASTED RESOURCES, AND FRUSTRATION. ATTENTION SHOULD NOW BE DIRECTED TOWARD EVALUATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY, AND TOWARD THE REALIZATION THAT POLICE PLAY A BROADER ROLE IN SOCIETY THAN SIMPLY FIGHTING CRIME. REFERENCE NOTES AND A GRAPH ARE INCLUDED.