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  • Essay / Technology and Policing - 2076

    IntroductionThe use of technology in policing has been rapidly adopted in recent years. However, it should be noted that the process of adopting and effectively using technology in law enforcement began over 50 years ago. For example, it became clear in the 1950s that the computer would facilitate the storage and retrieval of large amounts of data. More recently, technological advances have incorporated more sophisticated means of transmitting and analyzing information, thereby facilitating the law enforcement process (Button, Sharples, & Harper, 2007). Police have found various aspects of the technology useful; Computer crime mapping has been widely adopted and has therefore received much attention (Goldstein & McEwen, 2009). Mapping computer crime Mapping computer crime has undoubtedly helped to alleviate the negative perception of the effectiveness of the police in fighting crime. According to Goldstein and McEwen (2009), perceived confidence in police capabilities largely declined in the 1970s and 1980s. Studies conducted at the time established that existing policing strategies were in need of an overhaul. For example, preventive patrols and rapid response to police calls (which were the predominant strategies) contributed very little to crime prevention. Consistent with the findings, available statistics clearly indicate that crime rates, even in areas patrolled by highly trained police forces, are increasing at an alarming rate. Police specialists were affected by this negative perception as much as the police; they therefore intensified their search for a solution, carrying out various studies (Goldstein & McEwen, 2009). As a result, the popularity of computer crime mapping has increased. Although the conc...... middle of paper......attention. One of its main advantages is its ability to quickly gather information on crime in a particular area, which can effectively guide throughout the process of formulating solutions. Currently, more and more officers are discovering its importance and therefore integrating it into their operations. Works CitedButton, K., Sharples, K. and Harper L (2007). Technological advancement: the promising approach to law enforcement. International Review of Criminology, 12(2), 600-23. Golden, J. (2006). Rural and Urban Law Enforcement Agencies: Why is Law Enforcement Technology Adoption Different? The Matter of Criminal Justice, 1(8), 200-25.Goldstein, M. and McEwen, K. (2009). The use of technology in policing and other areas of law enforcement: a study of the development and effectiveness of computer crime mapping. Crime Management Journal, 12, 300-329.