Solving crimes isn’t easy, despite what you see on detective shows and movies. It takes more than collecting evidence, running it through a computer, and finding the perpetrator. The reality is far different because law enforcement agents and investigators have to beat the odds to get hold of the criminals and bring justice for the victims. It can take months or even years to connect the evidence and create a chain that leads to the criminal. Proving a crime in court is an equally challenging task. Fortunately, innovation has emerged as a savior in criminal investigation and law enforcement, helping agents crack the cases faster and with lesser work. Let us highlight some technologies making it big in the field.
Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
Many law enforcement agencies rely on massive databases with information about the criminal history and background of individuals. While they should be an advantage, the complexity makes it harder to extract useful insights from them. Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence make it easier to establish connections between disparate systems. The algorithms improve investigations and drive better decisions regarding prosecution and punishment. Further, AI-based systems remove human bias from decisions and make them more factual. Law enforcement agencies can even use AI for assigning risk scores to suspects based on their data and history.
Advanced monitoring systems and digital forensics
Technological advances make it possible to keep track of criminals and victims with advanced monitoring systems and digital offensives. Electronic monitoring systems can help agents to monitor people serving house arrest for minor offenses. They enable intense surveillance via audio and visual recording and GPS monitoring, making house arrest a feasible alternative. It can save communities money and reduce the burden on prisons, keeping the space for serious offenders. Similarly, Cell Phone Forensics Software helps investigators to dig deeper into the mobile devices of criminals and find evidence to incriminate them. They can also help with tracking victims and saving them with timely action.
High-tech officer protection
Technology also emerges as a game-changer for protecting law enforcement agents and officers as they serve in the field. High-tech security cameras installed in public places give a good start with officer protection. They record events in real-time, helping officers to be better prepared when they face tactical situations. Officers can use smart belts that monitor their movements and position and even provide alerts backup when necessary. They can get additional force just when they need it, so safety is not a big concern. Robotic cameras and drones are some other technologies that ramp up officer protection.
Beyond solving cases and catching criminals, technology can even help in preventing crime in the first place. AI tools and predictive analytics enable officers to detect the possibility of crime and stop it before any damage is done. Facial recognition assists them in identifying suspects and criminals even as they do their best to conceal identity. The role of innovation in the criminal justice field is immense, and these technologies are only the tip of the iceberg. Things will get only bigger and better in the future.
