Public Safety Technology in the News

Defendants Have Right to Confront Analysts of Forensics, Court Rules
Washington Post, (06/26/2009), Robert Barnes

A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision could mean dramatic changes for the way criminal trials are conducted. The court ruled in June that criminal defendants have the right at trial to question lab analysts and others who prepare forensic reports. The court majority said the records are not objective documents but a form of testimony against the defendant, and those that prepare them are subject to cross-examination. Dissenting judges said the decision “disregards a century of jurisprudence” and threatens the orderly pursuit of justice. The case involved a Massachusetts man who was denied the opportunity to question a crime lab analyst whose report identified as cocaine the substance police said he possessed. Defense lawyers lauded the ruling; prosecutors say it will make their jobs more difficult.
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/25/AR2009062504068.html?hpid=sec-nation

Texting While Driving in Va. About to Carry a Fine
Washington Examiner,( 06/28/2009), Maria Schmitt

Virginia is the latest jurisdiction to prohibit text messaging while driving. The law, which went into effect July 1, carries a $20 fine. However, it is a secondary offense, which means police can’t pull drivers over for texting. Police can fine drivers for texting if the driver is pulled over for another offense and happens to be texting as well. Eleven states and the District of Columbia have similar laws on the books.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/local/Texting-while-driving-in-Va-about-to-carry-a-fine-49391432.html

Twin Cities Cops Add Cell Phone Alerts to Arsenal
Star Tribune, (07/01/2009), David Chanen

Police in the twin cities have joined more than 1,000 other law enforcement agencies using a service that provides information to citizens via cell phones, the Web and e-mail. Citizens who sign on can receive traffic updates, crime alerts or other information police want to make public. In addition to Minneapolis and St. Paul, cities using Nixle include Baltimore, Los Angeles and Chicago.
www.startribune.com/local/stpaul/49648267.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUncacyi8cyaiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Law Enforcement to Use $254K in Stimulus Funds on New Communication System
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, (07/01/2009)

Two Colorado law enforcement agencies are using economic stimulus money to purchase a new computer-aided dispatch and records management system. The Grand Junction Police and Mesa County Sheriff’s Department will split the $254,568 received as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grant is part of $3.9 billion in stimulus funding from the U.S. Department of Justice.
www.gjsentinel.com/hp/content/news/stories/2009/07/01/070209_2A_City_County_ARRA.html

New Prisons, Shorter Sentences Recommended to Reduce Corrections System Overcrowding
Charleston Gazette, (07/01/2009), Phil Kabler

Expanding community corrections and building a new medium-security prison are among a panel’s recommendations for reducing overcrowding in West Virginia’s prisons. The Governor’s Commission on Prison Overcrowding focuses on three broad strategies to trim the prison population: alternative sentencing for low-risk felons with emphasis on community corrections options, shortening lengths of sentences with emphasis on rehabilitation rather than punishment, and providing additional inmate housing. The state Division of Corrections currently has more than 6,300 inmates, about 1,300 of which are housed in regional jails because state facilities are at capacity. The panel’s report notes that the state inmate population will exceed 6,500 in 2012 and 10,300 in 2017.
wvgazette.com/News/politics/200907010689

New York Police Expand Dirty Bomb Security
Reuters, (07/01/2009)

A program to help detect radiation from dirty bombs is being expanded to the New York suburbs. Thousands of law enforcement officers in areas within 50 miles of New York City, including state police and sheriffs’ departments in New Jersey and Connecticut, will have access to radiation detectors for dirty bombs and nuclear devices. The detectors include cell-phone-sized devices that officers wear on their belts. The belt devices buzz when they detect radiation. The program expansion is being funded through the federal Securing the Cities program. A dirty bomb combines conventional explosives such as dynamite with radioactive material.
www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN019806820090701

Maryland State Police Overhauls Its Vehicle Citation Process
Government Technology,(06/29/2009), Elaine Rundle

The Maryland State Police are streamlining the issuing of speeding tickets and other citations. With the implementation of the electronic traffic information exchange (E-TIX) program, officers can scan a driver’s license bar code on a squad car laptop to fill in electronic citation forms. The officer selects the violations and prints the ticket, then gives it to the motorist. The process reduces the time it takes police to complete a ticket or warning. E-TIX was developed by Maryland State Police Cpl. Chris Corea. The program is available to all Maryland police departments for free, but departments must provide the equipment including a bar code scanner, printer and laptop with a Wi-Fi connection. Corea said it cost between $300,000 to $400,000 to provide state police vehicles with the equipment, much of which was covered by state transportation grants.
www.govtech.com/gt/articles/698189

Conn. Using $600K for Internet Crime
Associated Press, (07/06/2009)

Connecticut is using $600,000 in federal stimulus money to crack down on people who use the Internet to victimize children. Most of the money is for the state’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which comprises state troopers, local officers and civilians. The money will be used to optimize state and local efforts through expanded training, forensic analysis, community awareness programs and upgraded technology.
www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-ap-ct-children-internetjul06,0,468421.story

Now, You Can Friend the Grundy Sheriff
The Herald News, (07/06/2009), Jeanne Millsap

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Department has joined a growing list of law enforcement departments using social networking sites to combat crime and provide information to citizens. The Illinois jurisdiction has set up accounts with Facebook and Twitter to ensure they reach people who may not read a newspaper or listen to the radio. The department could use Twitter to send alerts to citizens’ wireless phones about dangerous weather conditions, power outages or traffic accidents. Visitors to Facebook can view messages or photos posted by the department, such as videos or still photos of suspects.
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/news/1653294,4_1_JO06_TWITTER_S1-090706.article

KC Red-Light Cameras Prove Too Successfu
Columbia Daily Tribune/Associated Press, (07/02/2009)

Red-light cameras are increasing the need for officers in Kansas City. In the program’s first three months, the police department issued 6,900 tickets to motorists. The tickets carry a $100 fine. But because so many motorists are running red lights, officers need to monitor computer screens all day to make sure the tickets are legitimate. So the department must hire four more officers or come up with funding for overtime. Each camera would have to catch 45 red-light runners per month to break even. There are currently 20 cameras, and 10 more are to be added in July.
www.columbiatribune.com/news/2009/jul/02/kc-red-light-cameras-prove-too-successful/