Law Enforcement & Corrections Technology News Summary September 28, 2006

"Technology Can Keep Cases Hot"
New York Newsday (09/24/06); Armario, Christine; Epstein, Reid J.

DNA and advancements in detective training are enabling the nation's police departments to solve more murder cases. Det. Lt. Dennis Farrell, head of Nassau's Homicide Squad, notes that these improvements have increased opportunities to make arrests in difficult cases, which police typically were pessimistic about solving when an arrest was not made within 72 hours. The amount of DNA required to investigate crimes has decreased substantially since the beginning of last decade. Joseph Pollini, a professor at New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice, adds that the state has a database of DNA samples taken from prisoners. Nevertheless, some cases still prove difficult, as illustrated by the shooting death of 17-year-old Ebony Ponce. Ponce, who had recently switched schools, was shot at a traffic light at the beginning of this month. Police have uncovered no motive for the killing, but are hopeful that someone with information about the crime will contact them.
http://www.newsday.com
/news/local/longisland/
ny-lidna244905089sep24,0,335864.story

"Control Box at Texas Jail Tampered With"
Associated Press (09/23/06); Brezosky, Lynn

A control box at the private-sector East Hidalgo Detention Center near Mexico was tampered with, likely causing an fence-based alarm system to malfunction as six prisoners escaped without the alarm sounding, says LCS Corrections Services co-owner Richard Harbison. The jail is installing a prevention system to alert officials if a fence alarm is turned off. The jail also is installing surveillance cameras near four outdoor control boxes. Five gang members escaped as well as former police officer Francisco Meza-Rojas, who faces federal drug charges. http://www.heraldnewsdaily.com
/ViewArticle.aspx?id=9068&source=2

"Device Helps Police Spot Stolen Cars"
Arizona Republic (09/21/06); Muench, Sarah

Police in Tempe, Ariz., will have two new devices that track stolen vehicles by Nov. 1. The Tempe Police Department purchased the mobile license-plate-recognition systems for $26,000 apiece with a grant from the Arizona Automobile Theft Authority and with the money from the department. In addition to tracking stolen cars, the device can help with Amber Alerts. It contains two cameras that sit on top of a police car and can scan up to 10,000 license plates during one shift. License plates are scanned and compared to a database of stolen vehicles. Tempe police Sgt. Joe Brosius says the device is a timesaver.
http://www.azcentral.com
/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0921evgadge0920.html

"High-Tech Plan Pitched to Fight Illegal Crossings"
USA Today (09/21/06) P. 5A; Hall, Mimi

The Department of Homeland Security is getting ready to have hundreds of new camera towers erected at the country's land borders as part of a campaign to beef up security and significantly reduce illegal immigration across the United States' southern border. Secretary Michael Chertoff intends to announce Thursday that the government will pay private contractors, among them Boeing, millions of dollars to install state-of-the-art towers to contain cameras and sensors that will assist Border Patrol agents in nabbing individuals coming into this country illegally. In addition, the contract will include unmanned aerial vehicles and radar systems that are ground-based. The towers are one part of a Secure Border Initiative that Chertoff proclaimed last year; Homeland Security is also working toward increasing the number of its border agents, and is now forcing immigrants who are here illegally to be sent home or contained in detention centers until they have court hearings concerning their status. http://www.usatoday.com
/printedition/news/20060
921/a_border21.art.htm

"Law Enforcement Seeks New, High-Tech Crime Fighting Tools"
Associated Press (09/23/06); Smith, Vicki

The Sheriffs' departments in the Northern Panhandle area of West Virginia are beginning to use electronic files and digital photographs, in addition to fingerprint-photo technology, to assist their investigative efforts. The new identification approaches make paper arrest cards obsolete. Lt. Drage Flick of the Ohio County Sheriff's Office notes that police departments in the county plan to start using EyeCheck technology in December that can determine whether suspects have drugs in their system. EyeCheck also has applications to check whether truck drivers or other drivers have not slept a sufficient amount of time to safely operate a vehicle.
http://www.ap.org

"Cameras for Jail's Security"
Newsday (09/20/06); Lam, Chau; Madore, James T.

The county of Suffolk, N.Y., is mulling the installation of surveillance cameras within and outside the Riverhead jail, a move originally proposed almost six years ago. At the urging of Suffolk Sheriff Vincent DeMarco, county leaders unveiled a bill on September 19 that would allocate $1 million towards the purchase and installation of 100 video cameras. DeMarco said the primary goal was to save taxpayers' money by having fewer staff members. The surveillance cameras would be placed inside hallways, holding areas, common areas, and the yard; the cameras would be able to record only video images. They would not be installed inside inmate cells, and no monitoring of sleeping areas would take place, according to DeMarco. Vito Dagnello, president of the county's Correction Officers Association, said he does not support "replacing correction officers with cameras." The jail currently has roughly 160 to 170 correction officers who guard some 950 prisoners during the day shift of 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. According to DeMarco, video cameras are already in use in the visitors' area to avert the influx of smuggled items. Suffolk County's chief deputy executive Paul Sabatino said the surveillance cameras might help reduce lawsuits filed by inmates. "It's common sense," he explained. "Getting to the truth protects both taxpayers and the innocents." http://www.newsday.com
/news/local/longisland/
ny-lilegi204898759sep20
,0,7126258.story?coll=ny-linews-headlines

"TSA May Shift Funds to Improve Airports' X-Ray Technology"
Washington Post (09/22/06) P. A7; Wilber, Del Quentin

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is considering using $20 million that had been earmarked for purchasing so-called "puffer" explosive-detection machines and instead using the money to upgrade its X-ray machine technology used at security checkpoints. The X-ray machines that are currently being used are somewhat limited in that they can only take images of carry-on bags from one angle, making it possible for banned items inside bags to remain hidden from view in some cases. By upgrading the X-ray technology, the TSA would be able to take multiple images of bags, eliminating blind spots inside the bags. In particular, this would help security screeners spot the shapes of items that may contain liquid explosives, the TSA said. The proposal to shift the $20 million represents the "biggest bang for the buck," says TSA chief Kip Hawley. TSA officials explained that the expensive puffer machines are susceptible to dust that causes them to frequently stop working and that they are incapable of detecting liquid explosives.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
/wp-dyn/content/article/2
006/09/21/AR2006092101776.html

"Police Pursue System"
The Tribune (Seymour, Ind.) (09/20/06); Woods, Aubrey

Jackson County, Ind., police officer Tom Wright is campaigning for new video technology that would enable local police to digitally enhance camera photos and video surveillance films often found in retail stores as security tools. Wright wants to pursue a $49,950 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for purchasing this video detective system He has asked the Jackson County, Ind., city council to approve his bid for the grant. Wright also plans to attend an upcoming three-day program in Virginia to study photo documentation technology and methods. http://www.tribtown.com
/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=2078
6&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=186&S=1

"Inmate Tracking Systems Breed Errors"
Washington Post (09/19/06) P. A1; Vargas, Theresa

Many areas in the Washington, D.C., region still use isolated and incompatible criminal databases that are unable to communicate with each other. As a result, something as minor as deleting a hyphen in a name or spelling a name slightly differently can cause an inmate's records to fail to match court records. The problem is especially acute in the case of immigrant names because a variety of spellings are used and the use of two last names is common. Officials say it is crucial that court and prison information be compatible within a particular jurisdiction. At present, jurisdiction differ in such things as fingerprinting inmates, the use of aliases, and using numbers or names to identify inmates. Officials in larger cities such as Los Angeles and Miami usually rely on fingerprints and identification numbers instead of names to monitor inmates, and such data goes into a centralized database that can be accessed by courts and jails. "If a woman was arrested as Delafuente the first time and Flores the second time, it still would always come back to Delafuente," explained Lt. Tim Murphy, the watch commander of the inmate reception center in Los Angeles. He added that any mistakes that occur are nearly always due to clerical error.
http://www.washingtonpost.com
/wp-yn/content/article/2006/09/1
8/AR2006091801367.html

"CHP to Use Laser Technology to Nab Hwy. 17 Speeders"
San Jose Mercury News (CA) (09/20/06); Richards, Gary

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is getting a speed-tracking tool called a Lidar that uses a pointed, red laser beam to instantly gauge the speed of a car. The Lidar will enable police to quickly pick out a speeding car even among a pack of cars, see the model and make, and apprehend the driver. The CHP will use it on a stretch of Highway 17 near Santa Cruz that is curvy and mountainous. This particular stretch of road in 1998 saw a peak of 896 automobile accidents. Since then, the CHP has used a number of preventative and penalizing methods to reduce annual average automotive injuries from 250 per year then to 166 per year now; and accidents have fallen by 17 percent from 2005 to 2006.
http://www.mercurynews.com/
mld/mercurynews/news/local/15566929.htm

"Fingerprint System Gets Update"
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel (FL) (09/20/06) P. 1; Forgoston, Jeff

Police in Hollywood, Fla., will soon begin using a new automated fingerprint system that can provide faster prints with greater clarity. In addition, the $88,046 biometric system will be able to use palm prints. Hollywood police began using its older automated fingerprint system roughly 10 years ago after using traditional fingerprinting methods. The new system allows police officers to obtain prints by rolling a suspect's finger across a glass window. The city used law enforcement forfeiture funds to purchase the technology.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com
/news/local/broward/sfl-cprint20sep24,0,6164149.story

"High-Tech Tool Can Pinpoint Gunfire Source"
Inside Bay Area (CA) (09/20/06); Harris, Harry; MacDonald, Heather

Oakland police are scheduled to be aided by microphone technology placed in some of the city's most crime-ridden areas. The microphones are able to determine the location of shooters that fire guns from as far 1.5 miles of the device. The technology requires a leasing fee of $288,500 for 12 months and becomes part of other advanced technology used by the Oakland Police Department. Police department officials report that the microphones are able to identify gun shots from fireworks and other sounds that can be mistaken for gunfire. The department is also hopeful that its program to equip high-risk offenders with bracelets that are tracked via the global positioning system will pay dividends. Parolees convicted of violent crimes or drug offenses are required to wear the bracelets, which will eventually also detect the presence of alcohol or drugs in the wearer's body.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/
search/ci_4366408

"Emergency Alert Bill Could Stall Wireless Warnings"
RCR Wireless News (09/20/06); Silva, Jeffrey

Wireless warning deployment may be delayed as a result of the recently approved Warnings, Alerts, and Response Network Act, sponsored by Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.). The act calls for $106 million to be used for wireless and emergency warning technical protocol development methods. Congress wants to further develop emergency distribution channels before an emergency broadcast system is fully deployed. The Senate voted in favor of the bill to update the country's current emergency warning system. Paul Klein at CellCast Technologies says the bill is unnecessary and that Congress should consider using existing and proven technologies such as cell broadcast technology. "The nation's technological infrastructure for cell broadcast is already in place," says Klein. "No new development is necessary for immediate activation." The mobile phone industry is advocating the use of short message service. There are currently 219 million U.S. mobile phone subscribers.
http://www.rcrnews.com
/news.cms?newsId=27340

"States Rap DHS Info-Sharing"
Government Computer News (09/06); Dizard III, Wilson P.

Several federal information-sharing systems do not work with state and local information systems, said state fusion center officials to Congress during a House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment hearing. Some 42 fusion centers have been created by states, cities, and regions to share information from several different agencies. Col. Kenneth Bouche at the Illinois State Police said the issue of consolidated information sharing needs to be a priority. Users are being forced to sign on to multiple systems to gain access to information. Bouche cited several systems that do not connect such as Law Enforcement Online, the Homeland Security Information Network, and the Regional Information Sharing Systems. "It truly dismays me to think that five years after the September 11 attacks, we are still not where we should be regarding the exchange of information needed to prevent and respond to attacks and possible threats against our communities," said Bouche. State officials are also critical of the government withholding information they have deemed classified. Bouche said security clearances are not recognized between different agencies and the process to obtain a clearance is too long. The Department of Homeland Security is currently working with state and local fusion centers so they link to the Homeland Security Data Network.
http://www.gcn.com/online
/vol1_no1/41924-1.html

"San Diego Police Foundation Receives $1 Million Donation"
PR Newswire (09/13/06)

Qualcomm has donated $1 million to the San Diego Police Foundation to assist it in purchasing handheld communication devices and global positioning system (GPS) tools. The donation stipulates that around 60 percent of the funds will be allocated to purchasing CDMA2000 wireless tools that will boost police service response times, and also provide police dispatchers with new options, such as GPS positioning information and broadband data services. The rest of the funds will be used for wireless devices for police communication. "Our police officers are dedicated and intelligent, but they don't have all the tools they need to maximize efficient service," said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. Today "One of the greatest challenges faced by police officers in the field is that of convenient communications capabilities and the department has substantial technology needs that total more than $5 million," noted San Diego Police Foundation CEO Wenda Alvarez.
http://www.govtech.net/ne
ws/news.php?id=101007-------

"Are Fake Videos Next?"
CNet (09/11/06); Kanellos, Michael

After already having developed software that can determine whether a digital photograph has been doctored, Dartmouth professor Hany Farid is now looking to create a similar application for video. "I thought, 'This is going to be so much easier,' but it turns out to be much harder," he said. "In a minute (of) video, you are talking about thousands of images. Just the sheer mass of data that you have to contend with is challenging. You have memory and run-time issues that you don't have with (still) images." Farid and his colleagues at the Dartmouth Image Science Group are also releasing a host of new tools that could allow law enforcement officials and others to detect when a photo has been altered more easily. Fake and retouched digital images have become a major problem, thanks to faster processors, improved editing software, and a global audience. While the audio is relatively easy to tamper with, Farid says, video is considerably more difficult. Farid and his graduate student, Weihong Want, have only just published a paper on video forensics, and the software capable of conducting a forensic analysis on video could still be two years' in the offing. The software would likely work in a similar fashion as the kind used to detect photography fraud, scanning for anomalies in the digital feed. By analyzing the continuity of the horizontal lines that pass between frames in video, the software promises to determine whether the video has been doctored. Thus far, however, it has been difficult for the researchers to quantify what determines a significant enough break in continuity that the video can be assumed to have been altered. JPEG quantitization tables enable analysts to determine by brand the rate at which cameras will drop data while compressing an image. "I can't tell you the serial number of the camera, but I can tell you this did not come from a Canon PowerShot. It came from a Nikon," said Farid. "You can also tell if it came through Photoshop. It won't tell you what happened to the image, but it tells you it did not directly come out of the camera."
http://news.com.com/Are+fake+vid
eos+next/2100-1008_3-6113449.html

"Pinch My Ride"
Wired (08/06) Vol. 14, No. 8,; Stone, Brad

Most of the newer cars on the road today are equipped with transponder theft deterrents, which feature an ignition key in which a small computer chip is embedded. This chip releases a unique radio signal to the car's onboard computer that enables the car to start. Many insurance companies and car manufacturers believe that thwarting a transponder system is so difficult that most criminals lack the money or ingenuity to do so. However, transponders actually start to lose effectiveness after a few years when criminals decipher how to bypass the system. Car thieves typically overcome a car's transponder deterrent system in four ways--by removing a particular fuse from an engine's power relay center, stealing the extra valet key hidden inside a car's manual, replacing the electronic control module (ECM) within a car's computer with their own ECM, and applying a series of pushes and pulls to a car's emergency brake lever that correspond to a car's VIN (vehicle identification number). In one case involving a Mercedes S430, mechanics found that an electronic ignition system and customized fuses had been wired to the dashboard and the fuse box. Investigators believe the thief used a PDA to upload pilfered software into the car's computer and replace the car's GPS tracking number with another. Ivan Blackman with the National Insurance Crime Bureau's Vehicle Information and Identification Program, says more and more organizations are realizing that transponder-equipped cars can be stolen. http://www.wired.com/wired/
archive/14.08/carkey.html

"Information & Intelligence Sharing After 9/11"
Law Enforcement Technology (09/06) Vol. 33, No. 9, P. 46; Kanable, Rebecca

Law enforcement officials and experts say communication problems experienced during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks centered along two fundamental axes: Horizontal communications across the federal agencies, and vertical communication up and down local to state to federal agencies. Though many disagree how much has been improved, most agree that much needs to be done. The U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Justice are promoting the concept of a state-level fusion center that can bring together representatives of various state agencies and departments, and also be a communication hub for sharing information with those needed in emergencies outside the governmental structure, such as the medical community. Many states either have a fusion center today or are creating one. In addition, states are pushing forward with their own emergency response plans while simultaneously continuing to strengthen ties to agencies on the federal level, for the national process simply takes more time, says Homeland Security's William Moore, who runs the Lessons Learned Information Sharing program. Lessons Learned has a Web site at LLIS.gov, and Moore himself recommends that law enforcement and emergency agencies focus on building trust across state and local departments and also on the regional level, where many natural regional bonds already exist. Data-sharing among various local and federal law enforcement databases also has increased since 2001, a boost partially due to the increased use of XML and Global JXDM computer language. http://www.officer.com
/magazines/let/