Title: TechBeat Spring 2001 Series: N/A Author: National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center Published: April 2001 Subject: Technology in Law Enforcement pages: 12 bytes: 85KB Figures, charts, forms, and tables are not included in this ASCII plain-text file. To view this document in its entirety, download the Adobe Acrobat graphic file available from this Web site or order a print copy from NLECTC at 800-248- 2742. --------------------------- Technology Out of the Blue One place to find high-flying technologies under development by the U.S. Air Force is Rome, New York. One place to find technologies being brought out of the blue and down to earth for use by law enforcement and corrections is also Rome, New York, at the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC)-Northeast's Law Enforcement Analysis Facility (LEAF). LEAF was established in 1996 to evaluate, test, and demonstrate technologies developed by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate (AFRL/IF). At LEAF, engineers are using real-world investigative and criminal data to demonstrate how these Air Force technologies can be modified to benefit law enforcement and corrections. Roy Ratley, LEAF senior program manager, says that law enforcement and corrections agencies submit audiotapes and videotapes to the facility for audio/video enhancement, noise reduction, and speaker identification. In addition, LEAF personnel analyze electronic databases using information extraction technologies for data mining, and database populations and timeline analysis to visualize and recognize event patterns. Ratley says to date, LEAF has completed more than 500 demonstrations to local, State, and Federal agencies. o--Speech Enhancement. Developed by the Air Force to clarify pilot communications, the Speech Enhancement Unit (SEU) can automatically identify and eliminate audio interference due to impulse and tonal corruption and wideband random noise. Input signals are processed in real time, with a maximum system delay of 300 milliseconds. Originally using "black box" hardware, the SEU is now software driven and resides on a desktop or laptop computer. John Sargent, LEAF program manager, says the SEU is being used to make law enforcement patrol communications, body wire and other monitored surveillance recordings, and suspect interview and interrogation recordings more intelligible. The enhanced audio signal also reduces listener fatigue and communication errors. LEAF provided an analysis demonstration to the Middletown (Connecticut) Police Department regarding a homicide investigation. An audiotape that contained information about the homicide had been damaged and the voices made incomprehensible. On reviewing the tape, LEAF engineers determined that the tape had been incorrectly rethreaded during a previous repair attempt. As a result, the audio played back backwards and at high speed. The audio was reversed and slowed, restoring normal speech. LEAF also provided an analysis demonstration to the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement in Denison, Iowa, regarding a narcotics investigation. A noise-corrupted audiotape that contained information about the case was submitted for enhancement. Noise was reduced and the data amplified to improve its intelligibility. The conversation of interest was recovered and the tape became a deciding factor for the jury in convicting the defendant. o--Speaker Recognition. Automatic speaker recognition technology identifies a speaker from a segment of his or her speech. Given a speech sample from an unknown speaker and a database of speech samples for which each speaker is known, the software compares the unknown speaker against the database to find the closest match. This capability is independent of the speaker's language or choice of words. Identifications can be made on as little as one word (approximately one-third of a second of speech). Sargent says law enforcement has used this technology to identify telephone speakers in sexual harassment cases, false reports of fires, and other illegal activities. The technology may also limit the intrusion of wiretap surveillance into private conversations. LEAF provided an analysis demonstration to the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) in an official misconduct investigation. The DOC wished to compare voice samples from an unknown speaker and a known suspect to confirm that both speakers were the same person. LEAF engineers used the speaker identification technology to analyze the data provided by the DOC. The analysis gave administrators additional confidence in their evidence, and the individual charged was administratively removed from State service. o--Timeline Analysis. Timeline analysis (TAS) renders events as graphic icons to show event patterns. In this technology area, AFRL/IF created WEBTAS (Web-based timeline analysis system) to analyze sensor intelligence regarding enemy aircraft and ground troops, according to James Hepler, lead TAS analyst. When utilized by civilian law enforcement, WEBTAS allows a user to plot and analyze criminal events along a timeline. Behavior patterns can be modeled from past events to show future probabilities of occurrence. Because WEBTAS can display data in graphs, maps, tables, and timelines, it is being evaluated as a courtroom presentation tool. LEAF provided an analysis demonstration to the Oneida County (New York) District Attorney's Office for a homicide investigation. The district attorney's office wanted to construct a timeline depicting the critical events in the death of a 4-year-old child. Prosecutors wanted to show the jury that the pattern of physical abuse correlated with dates and times from statements made by the defendants. Timeline analysis enabled the district attorney to display to the jury the complex events relating to the homicide. The jury found the defendants guilty of criminally negligent homicide and endangering the welfare of a child. o--Information Extraction. Converting paper documents to an electronic form, automatically extracting information, and then presenting the information in meaningful ways that capture patterns is the idea behind information extraction technology. Sargent says this process is called "named-entity extraction." It involves identifying words and word sequences in a document that form names and then categorizing them by their meanings. These words and word sequences are called "named entities." In the sentence, "Michael has worked for XYZ since 1987," Michael would be identified as a named entity and categorized as a person. XYZ would be identified as a named entity and categorized as an organization. Although nouns are not usually used to refer to times, dates, and monetary amounts, these can be spotted as well. Therefore, 1987 would be a named entity and categorized as a date. In conjunction with an Arizona law enforcement agency, LEAF demonstrated that information extraction was technically feasible even when applied to 6,600 seized documents related to a money laundering investigation. LEAF is now demonstrating and evaluating how to apply information extraction technology to meet other law enforcement and corrections requirements. Also under research and development at LEAF for use by law enforcement and corrections: o--Automatic Gisting. Automatic "gisting" is the capability of a computer to monitor speech for keywords that indicate certain activities. Gisting produces a "gist" or synopsis of the information in the communications. AFRL/ IF has developed a real-time prototype gisting system which, in monitoring communications between pilots and air traffic controllers, can maintain a list of aircraft flight activities in which the aircraft are engaged (takeoff, landing, ground control). Sargent says automatic gisting of conversations may someday be useful for law enforcement and corrections surveillance. Because the gist of conversations can be acquired by a computer without a human listener, conversations could be monitored for indications of illegal activities with little manpower and without interfering with the basic rights of privacy. o--Automatic Spoken Language Translation. Automatic spoken language translation is the translation of human speech by computer. A user speaks into a device that translates the speech into another language, and then outputs (speaks) the translation. Originally used by the AFRL/IF in military field interrogations, this device allows civilian law enforcement and corrections personnel to communicate with non-English speakers in their own languages, eliminating the time needed to locate an interpreter. It also makes the collection of critical information at crime scenes more efficient and makes interrogation easier and less costly. "ELSIE," a computer laptop program available for demonstration at LEAF, recognizes speaker-independent, continuous speech input within limited military and law enforcement domains. This device is unique in that it uses speech rather than typewritten words as input to the translator, Sargent says. Future initiatives call for developing multilingual, multiapplication capabilities as well as handheld models. For more information about technology initiatives and assistance for law enforcement and corrections offered through the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center-Northeast, a program of the National Institute of Justice, and the Law Enforcement Analysis Facility, call 888-338-0584 or log on to JUSTNET at www.nlectc.org, the website for the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center system. --------------------------- NYC Probation on Track For many years, the New York City Department of Probation (NYCDOP) measured success using the "contact model" of probation. Under this model, a success would occur when the offender "contacted" his or her probation officer the required number of times during a specified period. "If the contact numbers were met, everybody was happy," says Frank Domurad, NYCDOP director of Staff and Organizational Development. "The only problem was we had no idea what was happening in those contacts or if they had any impact on offender behavior. We counted the contacts but had no way to measure the outcome. We saw that we were not producing any real, tangible results that were important to anybody except ourselves." "In other words," says Jerrold Alpern, assistant commissioner of the agency's Manhattan Adult Services, "NYCDOP had plenty of data, but no real knowledge of how its programs were affecting probationers or the community." In 1992, however, NYCDOP, with the support of city officials and funding from the local Office of Management and Budget, set out to change how it managed its probation services. The result is the Adult Supervision Restructuring (ASR), a program designed to meet the needs of various levels of nonviolent and violence-prone probationers through the use of a redesigned classification system and technology. One of the first things the department did was enlist the help of outside experts to develop a probationer classification instrument that would better predict violent rearrests. The department's previous instrument focused simply on general recidivism. Now, offenders deemed to be at high risk for violent re-offense are placed in the Enforcement Track, where cognitive-behavioral methods are used both in individual case management and in group settings. Probationers whose attitudes and conduct improve can then move to a relapse prevention unit to receive supervision and support. The Special Conditions Track is for probationers not considered to be violence prone, but rather who received court-ordered special conditions. This track is also for those deemed violence prone who have completed relapse prevention but have not completed court-ordered special conditions. The use of technology is most apparent in the Reporting Track-through the use of automated reporting kiosks. The Reporting Track is designed for probationers who present minimal risk for violent recidivism along with violence-prone offenders who have graduated from the Enforcement Track. After an initial face-to-face meeting with a probation officer, the probationer in the Reporting Track maintains contact with the agency through the kiosks. "One thing we recognized was that if we wanted to do cognitive-behavior group interventions, we couldn't have groups of 150 and talk about anything meaningful in terms of behavior change," Domurad says. "We wanted to free up our human resources, and [automated reporting] kiosks were an emerging technology at that time." The ASR program, Domurad says, currently uses 14 kiosks among 5 probation offices. This has freed officers to focus on higher risk clients as well as freed probationers from the tedium of regular visits with their probation officers. "Now," he says, "they report to a kiosk, which resembles an ATM, to check in and update their records-a process that takes less then 3 minutes." The check-in at the kiosk starts with a "talking head" video that narrates the text appearing on screen. The probationer indicates what language he or she uses and then enters an identification number. Hand geometry and photography are used for verification. Once user identity is verified, the probationer is asked for updated contact and employment information as well as whether he or she has been arrested since the last check-in. "When someone comes to the kiosk and gets the arrest question and answers it falsely, there is an immediate reaction on our part. The computer sends a silent signal to the attendant sitting nearby, who notifies a probation officer. We admonish [the client] and address the underlying causes of the arrest," Domurad says. According to Domurad, the foundation for ASR is a new database designed to process an avalanche of information. The prior system was little more than papers filled with "pedigree" data on each probationer. With the new system, officers can now use more than 400 data fields. Data can be accessed in a number of ways and used to tailor and prioritize each probationer's case. "Information is just a bunch of data," Domurad notes. "We needed to change it into knowledge, which is information that is useful to produce something. This new database produces knowledge. The probation officers can open up a case file and get a lot of information that will allow them to work on behavioral changes. It saves them time and provides them with the things they need to prevent relapse and determine whether the offender is succeeding or not." Although the jury is still out on whether the ASR program will lower recidivism rates, some things have become apparent already: o--Before ASR, low- and high-risk cases were usually mixed together in each caseload, sometimes with an offender-to-officer ratio of more than 200 to 1. Now, low-risk cases are isolated, and with the aid of kiosks and other changes, probationers are supervised effectively, even with a ratio of 500 to 1. This enables the agency to supervise the high-risk cases at ratios as low as 35 to 1. o--Each kiosk logs about 1,000 visits per month, which has reduced failure-to-report rates from 50 percent per month to 10 to 15 percent per month. "The kiosk system allowed us to free up our resources," Alpern says. "It lets us handle large numbers of probationers efficiently and cheaply. It lets us respond immediately to information and increases probationer accountability." Alpern, Domurad, and William Dorney, NYCDOP assistant commissioner for Management Information Services, all agree that technology was the single most important factor in enabling NYCDOP to restructure its operation. "Technology enabled us to envision what we wanted," Alpern says. "It allowed us to envision things we never would have been able to think about before." The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) was important to the restructuring process, Domurad adds. Its conferences, workshops, and seminars provided NYCDOP officials with information about emerging technology and how it could be used in the realm of corrections. In addition, NIJ's National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC)-Rocky Mountain provided technical assistance by providing information about biometric systems and other technologies. "Prior to our involvement with NLECTC-Rocky Mountain, if we had a question about a type of technology, we had to go to a variety of sources. About midway in the process, we got involved with the [NLECTC- Rocky Mountain] office. Having that one place to go for information on a whole variety of criminal justice issues made our jobs a whole lot easier," Alpern says. NIJ and NLECTC are still involved with NYCDOP, as is the National Institute of Corrections' Training Academy, which has provided leadership training to the agency for the past 3 years. NYCDOP eventually wants to integrate its database with the relevant criminal justice agencies in its area. Some of the data already are available to the New York City Police Department. NYCDOP also is implementing a pilot project in Brooklyn and Staten Island called the Neighborhood Shield Program. The agency's goal is to increase its presence and participation in the community and to change what Alpern calls "fortress probation," where probation officers stay in the office and wait for their clients to report in. The Neighborhood Shield Program stations these officers in storefronts, working alongside police officers "to address the fact that public safety is our main priority," Alpern says. "To do that, we have to work with the other agencies in the county, like the board of education, housing projects, and the courts. If the community sees us as a real presence, one where we can do some good, our services become more important and more effective." For more information concerning the New York City Department of Probation's Adult Supervision Restructuring program, contact Joe Russo at the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center-Rocky Mountain, 800-416-8086. Or, log on to www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/prob/html/asr.html. --------------------------- A Few Pointers For the New York City Department of Probation (NYCDOP), the development of its Adult Supervision Restructuring (ASR) program was not an overnight task, nor was it an easy one. Technology aside, agency administrators needed to involve personnel. They asked staff to detail what did not work in the old system and create a list of requirements for a new one. In addition, clerks, supervisors, managers, and probation officers were asked to provide feedback on pilot programs, a process that continues today. Agency administrators also needed to work with the probation officers' union. An agreement was struck under which money saved as a result of using new technologies was returned to union members in the form of productivity bonuses. Thus far, ASR has saved about $3.5 million each year, 30 percent of which has been returned as bonuses. Another notable change has been staff attitude and behavior-going from an agency of "bean counters" to a team of workers focused on behavioral change, says Frank Domurad, NYCDOP director of Staff and Organizational Development. "Our question is, 'Are we introducing what will work in terms of changing offender behavior?'" As part of the restructuring process, the agency redistributed resources to better meet the needs of high-risk offenders. In addition, the agency started doing a better job of ferreting out high-risk offenders, using the newly designed risk prediction instrument. NYCDOP also created a program using education and support to change probationers' behaviors. Termed "cognitive behavioral interventions," these classes teach problem solving, anger management, decisionmaking, and thinking skills. So far, probation officers like the ASR program, and as a result have an increased sense of teamwork and involvement with their clients' progress. The system has reduced the agency's staff attrition rate from 25 to 10 percent. One of the biggest challenges in the restructuring, however, was taking an information systems application built by consultants and adapting it. "As we went through the process, we were surprised that the technology was never actually capable of supporting the number of users we ultimately had in mind," notes William Dorney, NYCDOP assistant commissioner for Management Information Services. "My advice is that if you buy something off the shelf, you'd better be happy with all the features, because it isn't easy to change. You also need to keep in mind that this is a long process. I thought it would take 1 to 2 years. Five years later, we're still here and starting on another technology change of going from Windows(R) NT client/server application to a web-based application." Jerrold Alpern, assistant commissioner of the agency's Manhattan Adult Services, agrees with Dorney's characterization of the technology implementation process, calling it "an unending story." "The more users you add," Alpern says, "the more deeply involved you are in making the technology serve your needs, and the more changes you have to implement to keep going. And the logistics-every time you add users, you have to train them. Then you have to have refresher training every time the system becomes more sophisticated. We also have a whole list of items we need to prioritize in terms of future development. That list of to-do items is always much bigger than the time available to do them in, or than the budget allows. But I'm glad of that. It means the system is serving our needs. If we didn't have a whole lot of items to consider, it would mean the system was no longer responding." --------------------------- From the Director, Office of Science and Technology Law enforcement, courts, and corrections officials and officers working in the field know how crucial technology is to their day-to-day operations. In some circumstances, having the right tool can even mean the difference between life and death. The technological revolution that has swept society as a whole in recent years has also affected the criminal justice system. Some technologies that not long ago seemed advanced--vests that can stop bullets and electronic monitoring of probationers--today seem commonplace. But the revolution continues apace, with ever more spectacular advances now being made, or in the testing stages, or on the drawing board. As the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has, since its founding 30 years ago, been in the forefront in sponsoring the development, testing, and demonstration of technology to improve the justice system. The development of DNA testing standards, soft body armor, and improved fingerprint evidence collection are some of the many areas in which NIJ has played a leading role. More recently, with strong support from the Administration and the Congress, NIJ has accelerated the pace of its efforts. Less-than-lethal technologies to minimize the use of force, computerized mapping to pinpoint and analyze crime patterns, concealed weapons detection to prevent violence, methods of stopping fleeing vehicles to apprehend suspects, and improvements in DNA laboratories to aid in evidence testing--all these capabilities, and others, are now being explored by NIJ. Their application can mean even greater transformations in law enforcement operations. TechBeat plays an important role as an essential link communicating the latest information about these developing technologies from the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center. By keeping law enforcement, courts, and corrections personnel current about the tools they can use, the newsletter makes a difference in controlling crime and ensuring justice. David G. Boyd, Ph.D. Director Office of Science and Technology National Institute of Justice ------------------------------ The National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center is supported by Cooperative Agreement #96-MU-MU-K011 awarded by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice. Analyses of test results do not represent product approval or endorsement by the National Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice; the National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Department of Commerce; or Aspen Systems Corporation. Points of view or opinions contained within this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. The National Institute of Justice is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and Office for Victims of Crime. --------------------------- Coming Soon: 5th Annual Technology Institute for Law Enforcement July 22-27, 2001 Washington, D.C. The Technology Institute for Law Enforcement is an annual event for mid-level law enforcement professionals. Established and sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, this 5-day program is structured to communicate to participants information about existing and developing technologies they can access or acquire for their agencies. Participants bring to the conference questions, technology problems and solutions, and the desire to accomplish their jobs more efficiently and more effectively. There is no cost for the Institute and all travel, lodging, and food costs are covered. However, there are a limited number of openings. For an application or for additional information, contact the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center at 800-248-2742, or log on to JUSTNET at www.nlectc.org. Technologies for Public Safety in Critical Incident Response 2001 September 17-19, 2001 Hyatt Regency and Convention Center Albuquerque, New Mexico Sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, this fourth annual conference is a must-attend for those who respond to critical incidents such as natural disasters, industrial and transportation accidents, and terrorist attacks. The conference will showcase the latest in critical incident technologies, feature presentations from international experts, and offer educational sessions on topics ranging from bomb threat response, to domestic preparedness, to cybercrime, to interoperability. For more information, log on to the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center website, JUSTNET, at www.nlectc.org, call 888-475-1919, or e-mail jtelander@ctc.org. --------------------------- Visit Our Site -- www.nlectc.org Information on new technologies, equipment, and other products and services available to law enforcement, corrections, and the criminal justice communities, including access to a database of more than 4,000 available products and technologies. Online News Summary includes article abstracts on law enforcement, corrections, and forensics technologies that have appeared in major newspapers, magazines, and periodicals and on national and international wire services and websites. Publications from NIJ and NLECTC that you can view or download to your system. Frequently Asked Questions that offer detailed information based on thousands of calls to our information specialists. Calendar of Events that lists the latest upcoming meetings, seminars, and training. Links to other important law enforcement and corrections websites. Interactive Topic Boards that allow you to post questions and exchange information with hundreds of professionals in their specialty areas. For help in establishing an Internet connection, linking to JUSTNET, or finding needed technology and product information, call the NLECTC Information Hotline at 800-248-2742. --------------------------- Techshorts Technology News Summary TechShorts presents a sampling of article abstracts published weekly as part of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center's (NLECTC's) online information service: the Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology News Summary. Offered through JUSTNET, the website of NLECTC, this weekly news summary provides synopses of recent articles relating to technology developments and initiatives in law enforcement, corrections, and the forensic sciences that have appeared in newspapers, news magazines, and trade and professional journals. The summaries also are available through an electronic e-mail list, JUSTNETNews. Each week, subscribers to JUSTNETNews receive the summary directly via e-mail. To subscribe to the JUSTNETNews/Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology News Summary, e-mail your request to asknlectc@nlectc.org or call 800-248-2742. Please note that providing synopses of articles on law enforcement and corrections technology or the mention of specific manufacturers or products does not constitute the endorsement of the U.S. Department of Justice or NLECTC. Reproduction of this text is encouraged; however, copies may not be sold, and the NLECTC Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology News Summary should be cited as the source of the information. Copyright 2001, Information Inc., Bethesda, Maryland. UV Light To Lock TB Out of Jail; Shelby First County To Get System That Kills Bacteria in Air Memphis Commercial Appeal Tennessee health officials announced that inmates in the Shelby County jail will be protected from airborne bacteria, such as tuberculosis (TB), by using new ultraviolet light technology to recycle the indoor air flow through several ultraviolet lights that will kill TB-causing bacteria. The system, which is used in water-purification and food-processing systems to reduce the risk of contamination, is being installed in the jail's heating and air-ventilation system. The Shelby County jail will be the first county facility in the Nation to have the new system, which costs an estimated $180,000. The project is being sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division, the Shelby County government, and the Electric Power Research Institute. $2M Grant Fights Rural Crime Fresno Bee A Federal Bureau of Justice Assistance grant is to be awarded to the thriving Agricultural Crime Technology, Information, and Operations Network, a high-tech network aimed at cutting down on agricultural crime in rural California. The network, which grew out of the 5-year-old, State-funded rural crime prevention program, will have another $2 million to fund low-light cameras, motion detectors, sound sensors, wireless video, and other technology to be used to deter theft of farm vehicles, chemicals, hand tools, and irrigation supplies. Authorities in Tulare, Kings, Fresno, and Kern Counties are currently involved in the program, which has been a major success. Bill Yoshimoto, network project director and a Tulare County supervising attorney, says the four counties will eventually be able to access a network computer database that will store crop data, crime statistics, and information gathered by a global-positioning device. Yoshimoto says the network plans to use the grant money to expand the program to include the entire Central Valley. Use of DNA Evidence Expands; State Lab Testing Saliva on Envelope Milwaukee Journal Sentinel DNA testing is being used more often in routine investigations, according to Mike Camp, director of the State Crime Laboratory in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. DNA samples are used in investigations of burglaries, robberies, and kidnapings, since DNA can be taken from ski masks, saliva, cigarettes, and other items. Menomonee Falls police received permission to take blood from two suspects in a mailed bomb threat. They will compare the blood tests to saliva found on the stamp of the mailed letter. According to Menomonee Falls Police Lt. Jim Konopacki, DNA technology is useful in reopening old cases in law enforcement. Old cases can be solved if DNA is available in the evidence. Pewaukee police recently used blood on a broken window to trace a burglary to the case's suspect. The State's databank of DNA evidence from sex offenders also helps solve sexual assault cases. Computer Technology Aids Criminal Justice System Detroit News Officials in Michigan's Oakland County are hoping that a new computer system known as Probation Automated Management (PAM) will help them manage suspects awaiting trial. PAM is currently being used to keep track of criminals on probation and parolees. Using the PAM system, a person awaiting trial uses an unstaffed computer kiosk to periodically check in with the jail. A scanner confirms the suspect's fingerprints, which proves that he or she has not fled before trial. George Miller, Manager of the Oakland County Community Corrections Division, comments, "The criminal justice system is finally coming to understand that there needs to be a continuum of restriction. We need to move people gradually from the more restrictive settings to the lesser ones because our ultimate goal is to move them back into a free society." A Tattoo Is a Mark That Police Will Recall Minneapolis Star Tribune Law enforcement agencies are filling their databases with digital images of tattoos. Officials at the Wright County, Minnesota, jail photograph visible tattoos and enter them into a computer when they book people, and the adult-inmate database of the Minnesota Department of Corrections includes digital photographs of tattoos along with mug shots. However, local departments face a challenge as they attempt to share information about tattoos. Although the State has funding to develop a photo imaging center, the focus of the project will be a mug shot database. Furthermore, law enforcement agencies across the State would need equipment and uniform descriptive language to participate in a central repository of tattoo descriptions and images. Wright County Sheriff's detective Dave Clemence says tattoos are still important to law enforcement officials, even though body art is more common these days. One in 10 Americans is now believed to have a tattoo. Sensors of Chemical Warfare Agents Make a Mass Transit Debut Corporate Security The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration, the U.S. Department of Justice's National Institute of Justice, and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority have jointly created the PROTECT task force to study the efficacy of using micro-sensors in public areas to detect and identify chemical and biological warfare agents. The initial test site is a Washington, D.C., Metro station because of its potential as a political target; the Metro system's position as a leader in chemical and biological warfare protection efforts; and the fact that releasing toxic chemicals in a subway system is a quick means of inflicting widespread damage on a city. While DOE scientists have been working with detection technology for evaluation purposes for years, its application has only recently become possible. A major motivation for PROTECT's efforts is the death of 13 people and the injury of 5,000 more in a sarin gas attack on a Tokyo subway in 1995. The problem was made worse in that the initial responders to the incident had trouble identifying the agent and were unfamiliar with how to protect themselves, deal with mass fatalities, and stem the spread of the chemical. Nobody's Watching Your Every Move Business Week The growing field of motion-recognition security is making human surveillance of monitors obsolete. One of the first significant commercial tests of electronic monitoring began last November in Orlando, Florida. The city has installed four surveillance cameras in one of its high-crime neighborhoods. The system, which replaces much mindless monitor watching, can detect fires and any "unusual" body movements. After the cameras detect any suspicious movements, it alerts a live officer to investigate. High-Tech Prison Reform Austin American-Statesman A heartbeat monitor is among the first technological investments that the Texas Department of Corrections has made under the newly formed Technology Review Team (TRT). These investments are made, in part, to reduce the time it takes to perform menial tasks, such as the one for which the heartbeat monitor was created. Trucks take decomposed food from correctional facilities to farmers to feed their pigs. The heartbeat monitor reads the contents of the truckbed to prevent a prisoner from hiding in the slop when the truck leaves. Without the monitor, a guard would prod a stick or rod through the slop. Meanwhile, Los Angeles County's Twin Towers Correctional Facility puts the latest technology to practical use. The $400 million project boasts of glass doors in the maximum security facility; automatic locks equipped with manual override; state-of-the-art camera equipment placed throughout the building; intercom systems that allow officers to communicate easily; climate-controlled inmate cells; and fingerprint scanning. Numerous prisons in the United States are piloting a PepperBall Launcher, thermal images to detect heat sources, ionspectometry devices to detect narcotics, and the B.O.S.S. (Body Orifice Security Scanner) to find metal objects hidden in body cavities. Glitches, Hitches, Videotape Los Angeles Times Technical glitches with in-car police video recorders are making the tapes of criminal events worthless in court, because without proper sound and picture, the tapes lack credibility. After a man complained that a Fullerton, California, officer was rough with him at a traffic stop, the videotape was found to lack sound, which made it difficult to determine if the officer was talking in a threatening manner even though his posture on the tape was not indicative of such behavior. Repairing the cameras, which are not designed for constant use and heavy wear and tear, costs the Fullerton Police Department an estimated $16,000 a year. The glitches and the effort to repair them have led some departments, like the Irvine Police Department, to remove the cameras from patrol cars. Other cities, like Newport Beach and Beverly Hills, are opting to keep the cameras because they believe the benefits outweigh the hassles. In Los Angeles, the police department is seeking bids from companies interested in providing better in-car police cameras. NASA Helps Cops Catch Criminals on Earth With Video Technology Invented by Space Scientists M2 Presswire NASA technology known as Video Image Stabilization and Registration (VISAR) is now being used by law enforcement to help improve TV images of crime scene videos. NASA initially began working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1996 when scientists from the space agency used VISAR technology to help agents analyze video of the Olympic bombing in Atlanta. The system nullifies the effects of jitter, rotation, and zoom from frame to frame in videos and then combines the registered video images for a clear picture. Intergraph Government Solutions recently signed a licensing agreement with NASA to use VISAR in its video tracking and enhancement Video Analyst System, which is used by law enforcement agencies, the military, and even home computer users. Luggage Security Setup Uses Radio Waves, Microchips USA Today At the San Francisco International Airport, a new baggage security system will use radio waves and microchips as a better way of screening luggage considered a higher security risk than other pieces. The Federal Aviation Administration already uses a computer system to tell airport gate agents which bags should be checked for bombs or contraband, but the process can be time consuming, often requiring a passenger to be taken to a special screening room to be searched. The new system works by having ticket agents attach a sticker with a microchip and an antenna to the bag. As the baggage goes along a conveyor belt to the plane, a sensor automatically diverts the marked luggage onto a conveyor belt that takes it to a sophisticated bomb-detecting X-ray machine. The system will serve 24 airlines at a new international terminal at the San Francisco airport, which was scheduled to open in December 2000. Northwest Airlines has tested the system for the past year at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, and London's Heathrow Airport uses a similar system. The new system is expected to be 99-percent accurate and will result in more on-time arrivals and a higher level of security. --------------------------- From Idea to Invention Where does an idea for an invention come from? For one individual, it had its beginnings during an incident in which almost three dozen inmates freed themselves from restraints in a darkened holding area. For another, it just popped into his head while thinking about roller coasters as he lay in bed one night. For another, it came from being surprised and confronted in close quarters by a felon wielding a-fortunately unloaded-12-gauge shotgun. And for another, the idea resulted from a chain of events that involved land mines, an earthquake in Turkey, and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. A Hand on Handcuffs When it comes to moving or transporting a group of inmates, it is not an unfamiliar sight to see an officer with metal handcuffs bulging from every pocket of the uniform or dangling from a waistband. Although these creative methods of carrying multiple pairs of handcuffs can be crudely effective, they certainly, according to Herman Hendrickson, are not convenient, comfortable, or safe. Hendrickson has no experience as a correctional or police officer, but his son Dahl and daughter-in-law Kimber have. Both are correctional officers at the Federal Transfer Center in Oklahoma City. Both have worked in segregation units. Dahl also has been involved with a Special Operations Response Team. In their careers, Dahl and Kimber have had plenty of experience moving inmates from one area to another. They understand and appreciate the problems that can arise when trying to handle a dozen or so pairs of handcuffs while at the same time managing a dozen or so inmates. But what really drove the problem home for the Hendrickson family was an incident involving Dahl in which almost three dozen inmates freed themselves from their restraints. Dahl says that during a "cuff up" of 35 inmates following a disturbance, the prisoners were able to free themselves from the flexible plastic-type of handcuffs. He says they were able to do so because a number of the flexible cuffs were not applied properly due to low-light conditions. "Plastic flex-type cuffs have the advantage of being less bulky and lighter weight than metal cuffs," Dahl says. "But what happened was that in the low light the cuffs got secured around the hand with the thumb sticking out instead of securely around the wrist. This made it very easy for some of them to slip them [the restraints] off. Fortunately, the inmates were in a secure area." Herman Hendrickson says that what was needed was something that allowed quick and easy access to a number of sets of handcuffs. In addition, it should afford the officer greater protection by removing the chance that a prisoner could gain access to unsecured handcuffs. Based on these requirements, Herman Hendrickson came upon a disarmingly simple idea-CUFFCLIP(TM), a handcuff carrying device. Resembling a large, heavy duty spring clip, CUFFCLIP(TM) can be quickly attached to an officer's duty belt. Reversible for use on either the right or left side, the device can hold up to 13 pairs of metal handcuffs attached by a single wristlet or up to seven pairs with the wrislets doubled. "When you are ready," Dahl says, "you select the first set of cuffs on the CUFFCLIP(TM), slide them to the opening of the clip, pull the handcuffs forward, and in a few seconds you have a single pair ready while the others stay in place. We believe the device will work for all aspects of law enforcement-prisoner movement and transport, mass evacuations, disturbance control situations, and prisoner processing." A Prisoner's Place What keeps thrill seekers safely in their seats while taking on some of today's wild amusement park rides may find its way into the back seats of police cruisers, according to 17-year police veteran Kevin Mobley of the Lufkin (Texas) Police Department, who came upon the idea one night while lying in bed thinking about roller coasters. "I thought if those padded metal harnesses they use on roller coasters can keep someone safely in their seat while going 60 miles an hour and upside down," Mobley says, "why wouldn't they work in police cruisers?" So with some perseverance and some engineering assistance, he turned this idea into the IMMOBILIZER, a device to safely keep prisoners seated upright and in place while being transported. Although on the surface the design seems very simple, it was of great concern, Mobley says. "As any police officer will tell you, the 'adrenaline dump' you experience after being in a fight with a violent prisoner is tremendous. Although the fight may end quickly, especially when there is backup, your heart has been pumping adrenaline through your body. You're still going at 90 miles an hour. The fight is over, but the adrenaline is still looking for something to do. That's what often causes heavy breathing, sweating, and anxiety and causes your hands to shake uncontrollably. The design of the IMMOBLIZER takes these physical reactions into account." Mobely says that many prisoner restraint systems employ nylon straps and small clips and buckles. He feels these devices are deficient for two reasons. One, the nylon straps would slip through the plastic buckles, and two, it can be extremely difficult for officers to manage small clips when they are experiencing an adrenaline dump. The IMMOBILIZER, he says, is instead a metal pivotal restraint harness that is heavily padded and attached to a patrol vehicle just above the back seat. The harness, which is brought down over the prisoner's shoulders and torso, is operated by a rachet system. It can be activated by one officer standing outside the patrol vehicle, thus eliminating the necessity to put a seatbelt on the prisoner, which often places an officer in danger. The harness keeps the upper torso of the prisoner upright and firmly against the back of the seat. In addition, Mobley added a strap, similar to a seatbelt, which is secured to the floor of the vehicle and then attached to the bottom portion of the device to keep a prisoner from slipping underneath the harness. "By keeping the upper body firmly in place," Mobley says, "I think this device can help eliminate many of the common problems encountered while transporting violent prisoners, such as kicking or head-butting the windows." In addition, Mobley says the device can provide added restraint and protection for the prisoner should the cruiser be involved in a traffic accident. A Stick With a Twist Talk to almost any law enforcement officer and he or she will tell you of a close call. Talk to Jim Alexander, a member of the New Brighton, Minnesota, police force, and he will tell you about a foot pursuit that took him around the corner of a building and face to face with a 12-gauge shotgun. "I had no way of getting to my revolver," Alexander says. "I needed something to distract him. I had my nightstick in hand, but it was too short. He was standing out of reach." Fortunately for Alexander, the weapon aimed at him was unloaded. In another incident, Alexander says two officers on a domestic disturbance call from another area department shot a suspect they thought was reaching for a knife after they confronted him in his kitchen. This shooting, Alexander says, may not have happened had there been less-than-lethal options available. Based on these and other experiences on the street, Alexander says he struck upon a less-than-lethal option he calls the Life Stick(R). For more than 100 years there have been attempts to combine nightsticks, or batons, with other law enforcement equipment, such as ballistic weapons. Alexander says, however, that Life Stick(R) actually affords a number of different less-than-lethal defensive features. According to Alexander, Life Stick(R) is a combination nightstick and shell-firing device with an internal firing mechanism. It comprises a club portion that houses an internal barrel, and a handle portion that is movable to actuate the shell-firing mechanism. The internal shell-firing mechanism is cocked and released by a single rearward motion to the handle. In addition, the handle can be "twisted" to engage the safety. Conversely, the safety can be released by a simple simultaneous push of the safety "button" and a reverse twist of the handle. Designed to handle 12-gauge specialty rounds, the device can fire a bean bag, a rubber projectile, teargas, or pepper spray. The standard Life Stick(R) is almost 22 inches long, but Alexander also has designed a model with a lengthened barrel for use in riot situations. "You call the shots," Alexander says. "The idea here is not only can you use it like a nightstick, but you have the capability of firing a less-than-lethal round. It increases your options. It also is applicable for use not only in law enforcement but corrections and the military as well." Alexander has taken his invention to a number of different departments to get their feedback. He says these field evaluations have shown that when an officer is carrying the Life Stick(R) in hand, the device can be cocked and ready for firing faster than an officer can remove a firearm from a holster. Other feedback has included suggestions to make the device lighter and quicker loading. These changes are currently in progress. But Alexander is not finished with inventing. He says he has a "couple more ideas rattling around" relating to less-than-lethal inventions. As for Life Stick(R), he says that although it has been in development for a number of years, some of which involved modifications of the prototype from its original 20-gauge configuration to one that can handle 12-gauge specialty rounds, "if it saves one police officer's life, it was worth all the work." A Body by Any Other Smell She is a retired U.S. Navy commander who served in the Office of Naval Research. She also is a biochemist specializing in neuroendocrinology-the how and why of smell. After just a few minutes into a conversation with Dr. V. Ruth Pinney, one begins to get this mental image of her stirring a boiling cauldron and tossing in the likes of newts' eyes and toads' ears. But Pinney laughs at such a picture. "Actually," she says, "I have created some interesting things." One of the "things" Pinney created is Carry-On(TM), an ointment applied to the upper lip, directly under the nose, to block the receptors that detect the unforgettable, repugnant smell of decomposing or burnt flesh. But as is sometimes the case with inventions, Carry-On(TM) was a kind of accident. Pinney's original assignment came from a discussion with Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa during her days as the director of the Global Children's Foundation, a group involved in the transfer of technology for the benefit of the world's children. "We were discussing the problem of antipersonnel land mines because the archbishop was heading up a worldwide committee to get them banned," she says. "I began thinking of substitutes that would be effective in keeping people out of an area but would cause no bodily harm. My background led me down the path of using olfactory stimulation agents [malordorants]." Pinney says that the sense of smell lies in the most primitive portion of the brain areas. "It is our first sense, our most immediate sense. It evokes much stronger emotional behaviors and memories compared to our other senses. Many of our behaviors can be modified simply by using different odors." Her initial idea, a "skunk mine," was to assault the sense of smell, albeit with something so benign even a pregnant woman and her in-utero child would be unharmed. The result was a substance that smelled so obnoxious it could clear an area in seconds. In politically correct terms, she says, the technology is called "language independent signaling. This is because no language is used to communicate the sender's message." According to Pinney, one law enforcement officer who tested the malodorant stated, "It stinks so bad it makes your teeth hurt. You don't have to explain what it means." "With a malodorant, you can use it to clear an area or funnel people where you want them to go," Pinney says. "You could also spray it on the instigator of a riot. Everyone will run away, while the instigator just looks silly, running around ripping his clothes off, trying to get the smell off of him." Pinney says that ironically, while she was experimenting with malodorants, she had a niece who was in Turkey following a major earthquake. The niece relayed to her how horrific the smell was that came from the ruble and debris as the corpses of the earthquake's victims began to decompose. Pinney reasoned that if you can create something that smells so awful, "by doing the chemistry" you could create something to counteract the smell. Therefore, if the odor of decomposing or burned flesh can be created, it can also be counteracted. Carry-On(TM) was the serendipitous result. Instead of a horrible, obnoxious smell, Carry-On(TM) smells faintly of vanilla. When rubbed on the upper lip, just under the nose, it minimizes the perception of the smell of decomposing flesh while allowing the user to smell everything else. When the scent starts to wane, that's the signal to apply more. "Perceiving an odor is somewhat analogous to listening to music. Carry-On(TM) changes a note or two in 'the chord,' which changes the perception of a certain odor but lets you 'smell' the rest of the symphony," Pinney says. "Because one can safely and quickly achieve behavior modification through the nose, 'scents make sense' for law enforcement and corrections applications." [Editor's Note: The citing of the products in this article does not constitute an endorsement by the National Institute of Justice or the U.S. Department of Justice. The individuals featured in the article are receiving commercialization assistance from the Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization and have participated in many of the special commercialization events the Center sponsors.] --------------------------- Here to Help Have an idea but don't know what to do with it? There is help. Bringing research and private industry together to put affordable, market-driven technologies into hands of law enforcement, corrections, and the forensic sciences is the major focus of the National Institute of Justice's Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization (OLETC). "OLETC's job is to identify new technologies and product concepts and then to work with innovators and industry to develop, manufacture, and distribute new, innovative products," says Bill Patsche, a former police chief now involved with OLETC's law enforcement technology commercialization initiatives. "Facilitating these partnerships is so critical to making technology commercialization happen that this is what we are all about. Our staff includes law enforcement and corrections professionals, project and commercialization managers, plus engineers and technical and market research specialists." At no cost to the inventor or innovator, Patsche says, OLETC can assist with: o--Market assessments and commercialization plans. o--Location of manufacturing and distribution partners. o--Issues relating to liability, intellectual property, and licensing. o--Elimination of barriers to market entry. In addition, OLETC offers commercialization planning workshops that target technology innovators. These workshops, conducted three or four times a year, are designed to provide participants with the tools and knowledge necessary to assist OLETC in the commercialization of their technologies and concepts. Each year, OLETC also conducts the National Commercialization Conference. This conference brings law enforcement and corrections personnel together with national technology innovators and manufacturers to stimulate new product commercialization. In addition to technology exhibits, the conference offers workshops on commercialization skills. OLETC, the Moundsville (West Virginia) Economic Development Council, and the West Virginia Division of Corrections sponsor a mock prison riot once a year in the former State penitentiary in Moundsville. The "riot" showcases emerging corrections and law enforcement technologies and provides corrections officers and tactical teams from across the country with an opportunity to use and evaluate emerging technologies in riot training scenarios. Ultimately, the event helps determine the effectiveness of the technologies by incorporating them into realistic situations and allows for suggestions for modification and improvement. To learn more about the commercialization assistance services and special events offered through the Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization, contact Bill Patsche at 888-306-5382 or log on to JUSTNET, the website of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center, at www.nlectc.org. --------------------------- Technology Goes to Court Over the past decade, the criminal justice community has been introduced to such technology advancements as DNA analysis, automated fingerprint information systems, computer-aided dispatching, in-car video, and complex information management and communication systems. These advancements have made police officers far more efficient and safer on the job and have streamlined many law enforcement and corrections operations. However, in many cases, the new technology has had to receive the approval of its harshest critic--the courts. One police officer in California recounts when his case was dismissed just minutes after it was called: "We had our experts lined up who would testify about the technology. We brought the district attorney over and showed him the technology, how it worked, and had our experts explain the science. But when it was time to go to court, the D.A. apparently didn't think we needed our experts. At the preliminary hearing he decided to wing it and explain it on his own. The judge disagreed. He listened for about 5 seconds, and threw the case out." "Winging it doesn't work," says Jim Falk, a former White House counsel who now practices law in the Washington, D.C., area. "If it does, and if you manage to blow it by the judge, you will probably get reversed at the court of appeals. You can't dazzle them with your fancy footwork. You have to offer them solid information and have your scientific team ready to take the case to court." According to Falk, the admissibility of the evidence or the arrest that is the result of using new technologies involves two general considerations: the acceptance of the science itself, called scientific validity, and the qualifications of expert witnesses. Scientific Validity Before Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 509 U.S. 579 (1993), the most often cited test of scientific validity was the Frye test, the result of an almost 80-year-old decision regarding the admissibility of expert opinion testimony about what was then a new scientific procedure. In Frye v. United States, 293 F.1013 (D.C. Cir. 1923), the defendant based his claim of innocence on the results of a lie detector test that purportedly showed he was telling the truth. The court ruled that the evidence was inadmissible because the scientific principles upon which the procedure was based were not "sufficiently established to have gained general acceptance in the particular field in which it belongs." This so-called "Frye general acceptance test" remained the standard employed in Federal and State courts for many years. Then in 1975, the Federal Rules of Evidence were adopted, which gave judges more latitude in determining admissibility. Rule 104(a) gave them the responsibility of making a preliminary determination whether to allow a given expert to testify or not. Rule 702 guided this decision by requiring that the judge determine whether the admission of the testimony would help the court understand evidence or determine a fact at issue. Rule 403 suggested that the judge could exclude evidence if it was more likely to prejudice than increase understanding. Although the Federal Rules of Evidence gave judges more discretion in determining admissibility, there were those who questioned whether the rules would make the Frye standard obsolete. In 1993, the U.S. Supreme Court answered in Daubert. The Court held that Rule 702 did in fact supersede the Frye standard, giving judges new guidance in their role as judicial "gatekeepers." This approach had judges analyzing the reliability and relevance of potential testimony. In determining reliability, judges were instructed to do a ". . . preliminary assessment of whether the reasoning or methodology underlying the testimony is scientifically valid and of whether that reasoning or methodology properly can be applied to the facts at issue." In determining admissibility, judges were to consider four things: o--Whether the information in question could be or had been tested. o--Whether the theory or technique was subjected to peer review and publication. o--The known or potential rate of error. o--Whether the theory or technique had gained general acceptance in the relevant scientific discipline. Although making room for only a handful of guidelines that can be used when ruling on admissibility, the Frye standard, the Federal Rules of Evidence, and the Court's ruling in Daubert together created a more precise test for scientific testimony. Qualification of Experts As has been obvious in a number of high-profile trials, the courts are putting increased emphasis on the importance of an "expert's" credentials. Says Falk, "Courts are now focused on the next generation of how you qualify an expert. Every time you look at new technology, the focus is not so much on the technology as it is the qualification and scientific background of the individual presenting it. It is an expert's expertise issue probably much more than a technology issue. If there is someone who has a list of credentials from, say, the Society for Professional Optical Engineers and who's got 20 years of experience with electron microscopes, you'll probably be okay. If it's the local crime lab guy, you may not." The U.S. Supreme Court in 1999 reaffirmed in Kumho Tire Co., Ltd., et al. v. Carmichael et al., 526 U.S. 137 (1999), the trial judge's role as a gatekeeper of the admissibility of evidence and the elimination of experts whose work is not truly scientific, peer reviewed, published, tested, or subjected to normal scientific scrutiny. In Kumho, the plaintiff argued that the tire on his vehicle blew out, resulting in one death and a number of injuries. The plaintiff intended to use a tire failure specialist, who would testify that the problem with the tire was the fault of the manufacturer, Kumho Tire Co. As the case wound its way toward the U.S. Supreme Court, it focused on the use of Daubert as a guide to the admissibility of scientific evidence and the specialist's credentials and experience in determining the cause of the tire's failure. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled that Federal Rule of Evidence 702 does not differentiate between expert testimony that is "scientific" versus "technical." The Court also held that Daubert should be applied flexibly; that its factors of testing, peer review, error rates, and acceptability were simply illustrative; and that other factors could argue in favor of admissibility. Daubert's gatekeeping obligation applies not only to "scientific" testimony, but to all expert testimony, the Court said. The Court did not, however, find the tire failure expert's testimony reliable given those same guidelines. Although the testimony was characterized by the Court as skill or experienced based, the expert did not use a methodology that was widely accepted. According to the Court, the expert's methodology did not have a scientific foundation, nor had it been tested, published, or peer reviewed. Court Preparation "First, education is an important part of the [court preparation] process," Falk says. "Get with your prosecutors. Show them the technology during its testing stages. Make sure they understand the science that runs it . . . the methodology. Get your scientific and technical experts in to work with you. This will give the prosecutors the knowledge they need to lay the proper foundation for admissibility. Expertise is not an abstract concept. It is a quantifiable commodity that is part of the team effort required to take a technology-based case to court-a team that consists of police, prosecutor, and expert witnesses." "Second," Falk says, "be sure your expert witness is qualified. Is the person a true expert or someone who has only peripheral experience but lots of opinions? Has he or she done a scientific analysis of the evidence? Is there a solid scientific or technical foundation for the technology in question and for the expert's conclusions? Has your expert formulated opinions in this kind of case before? Is the prosecutorial staff clear on the guidelines and requirements in Frye, Daubert, and Rule 702? Are they willing to use experts and not try to go it alone?" "Third," Falk adds, "having a well-qualified expert is an important and often crucial matter, but the expert and the prosecutors must work together. Everyone needs to be involved so that the judge can readily grasp the why and how of the technology and so that the expert witness will be able to convince the court he or she has the ability and knowledge to testify. Although the underlying methodology must be sound and convincing, it often comes down to the qualifications of the expert testifying to that methodology." "With new and increasingly complex methodologies, it is even more important that the expert be qualified not only in the eyes of the law, but a true expert in his or her field, credible to all of the people in the courtroom." [Editor's Note: When it comes to the admissibility of evidence relating to technology or the use of expert witnesses, it is essential that departments and agencies always check with their district attorney and U.S. Attorney offices first.] --------------------------- The Center System Created in 1994 as a component of the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) Office of Science and Technology, the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) system's goal, like that of NIJ, is to offer support, research findings, and technological expertise to help State and local law enforcement and corrections personnel do their jobs more safely and efficiently. NIJ's NLECTC system consists of facilities across the country that are colocated with an organization or agency that specializes in one or more specific areas of research and development. Although each NLECTC facility has a different technology focus, they work together to form a seamless web of support, providing technology assistance, support, and information. NLECTC-National 2277 Research Boulevard Rockville, MD 20850 Phone: 800-248-2742 Fax: 301-519-5149 E-mail: asknlectc@nlectc.org The National Center, located just 30 minutes north of Washington, D.C., is the hub of the NLECTC system. It provides information and referral services to anyone with a question about law enforcement and corrections equipment or technology. Its staff manage the voluntary equipment standards and testing program that tests and verifies the performance of body armor, metallic handcuffs, shotguns, and police vehicles and tires. This office produces consumer product lists of equipment that meets a specific set of performance standards and also operates JUSTNET (Justice Technology Information Network), an Internet website that provides links to the entire NLECTC system and other appropriate sites, as well as assistance to those seeking information about equipment, technology, or research findings. NLECTC-Northeast 26 Electronic Parkway Rome, NY 13441 Phone: 888-338-0584 Fax: 315-330-4315 E-mail: nlectc_ne@rl.af.mil NLECTC-Northeast is located at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome Research Site (formerly Rome Laboratory), on the grounds of the Griffiss Business and Technology Park. The center sponsors research and development efforts into technologies that address command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence. This center draws on the expertise of Air Force scientists and engineers in its development of technologies that can be used to detect weapons concealed on individuals, an effort that is expected to yield stationary equipment for use in buildings and handheld devices for field and patrol officers. Other areas of research and development include through-the-wall sensors, audio processing, image processing, timeline analysis, computer forensics, secure communications, and command/control. NLECTC-Southeast 5300 International Boulevard North Charleston, SC 29418 Phone: 800-292-4385 Fax: 843-760-4611 E-mail: nlectc-se@nlectc-se.org Two of the focus areas of NLECTC-Southeast are corrections technologies and surplus property acquisition and distribution for law enforcement and corrections. The center facilitates the acquisition and redistribution of Federal surplus/ excess property to State and local law enforcement and corrections agencies. The equipment must be used for law enforcement purposes only. Utilizing the JUSTNET website, the center educates law enforcement and corrections professionals about Federal surplus and purchasing programs. The efforts of NLECTC-Southeast have resulted in agencies receiving equipment they would not ordinarily have access to or might not have been able to afford due to budgetary constraints. This facility also studies the needs of corrections agencies. It is guided in this mission by a committee of criminal justice, law enforcement, and corrections practitioners that identifies requirements and sets priorities for research and development. NLECTC-Southeast is allied with the South Carolina Research Authority (SCRA) and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR). NLECTC- Southeast's other areas of focus include information management and technologies, simulation training, and designated special projects. NLECTC-Rocky Mountain 2050 East Iliff Avenue Denver, CO 80208 Phone: 800-416-8086 or 303-871-2522 in the Denver area Fax: 303-871-2500 E-mail: nlectc@du.edu Located at the University of Denver, NLECTC-Rocky Mountain focuses on communications interoperability and the difficulties that often occur when different agencies and jurisdictions try to communicate with one another. This facility works with law enforcement agencies, private industry, and national organizations to implement projects that will identify and field test new technologies to help solve the problem of interoperability. NLECTC-Rocky Mountain also houses the Crime Mapping and Analysis Program, which provides technical assistance and training to local and State agencies in the areas of crime and intelligence analysis and geographic information systems (GIS). The Rocky Mountain facility also conducts research into ballistics and weapons technology, as well as information systems. Sandia National Laboratories has been designated as a satellite of NLECTC-Rocky Mountain. The laboratory works in partnership with NLECTC-Rocky Mountain and focuses on technology for detecting and neutralizing explosive devices. NLECTC-West c/o The Aerospace Corporation 2350 East El Segundo Boulevard El Segundo, CA 90245-4691 Phone: 888-548-1618 Fax: 310-336-2227 E-mail: nlectc@law-west.org NLECTC-West is housed on the grounds of The Aerospace Corporation, a nonprofit corporation that provides technical oversight and engineering expertise to the Air Force and the U.S. Government on space technology and space security systems. NLECTC-West draws on The Aerospace Corporation's depth of knowledge and scientific expertise to offer law enforcement and corrections the ability to analyze and enhance audio, video, and photographic evidence. In cooperation with The Aerospace Corporation, this NLECTC facility also has available an extensive array of analytic instrumentation to aid in criminal investigations, such as a scanning electron microscope, an x-ray microscope, and a mass spectrometer, all of which are used to process trace evidence. Its other areas of expertise include computer architecture, data processing, communications systems, and identifying technologies to stop fleeing vehicles. Border Research and Technology Center (BRTC) 1010 Second Avenue, Suite 1920 San Diego, CA 92101-4912 Phone: 888-656-BRTC (2782) Fax: 888-660-BRTC (2782) E-mail: brtcchrisa@aol.com The Border Research and Technology Center works with the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Customs Service, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California to develop strategies and technologies that will facilitate control of the Southwest border. One of its most recognized accomplishments has been the implementation of SENTRI (Secured Electronic Network for Travelers' Rapid Inspection). BRTC also works on joint ventures to identify technologies that will stop fleeing vehicles and is currently participating in a project to detect the heartbeats of people concealed in vehicles or other containers. Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8102 Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8102 Phone: 301-975-2757 Fax: 301-948-0978 E-mail: oles@nist.gov Supported by NIJ, the Office of Law Enforcement Standards applies science and technology to the needs of the criminal justice community. While its major objective is to develop minimum performance standards for equipment and technology, which NIJ promulgates as voluntary national standards, OLES also undertakes studies leading to the publication of technical reports and user guides. Its areas of research include clothing, communications systems, emergency equipment, investigative aids, protective equipment, security systems, vehicles, and weapons. It also develops measurement methods for analytical techniques and standard reference materials for forensic scientists and crime labs. Since the program began in 1971, OLES has coordinated the development of nearly 200 standards, user guides, and advisory reports. Housed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, OLES works closely with NLECTC-National to conduct tests and to guarantee the performance and quality of equipment used by police and corrections. Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization (OLETC) Wheeling Jesuit University 316 Washington Avenue Wheeling, WV 26003 Phone: 888-306-5382 Fax: 304-243-2131 E-mail: oletc@nttc.edu The Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization, a program of NIJ, is located at Wheeling Jesuit University. OLETC's mission is to work with industry, manufacturers, and laboratories to facilitate the commercialization of technologies for the law enforcement and corrections marketplace. OLETC provides special services and assistance to innovators, entrepreneurs, universities, Federal and other laboratories, and U.S. manufacturers nationwide in commercializing technologies that will enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement and corrections practitioners. A national partnership is being developed to provide a continual pipeline of innovative products, concepts, and value-added services that will expedite the commercialization of new products and services needed for State and local law enforcement and corrections communities. OLETC has directly assisted in commercializing several innovative products, including the RoadSpike(TM), a novel vehicle-stopping device; Tiger Vision(R), a special low-cost, handheld night vision device; an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Training Kit; and the Counterpoint Stab and Slash Protective Vest. OLETC has identified more than 70 additional emerging technologies and concepts that are currently being evaluated for possible commercialization. National Center for Forensic Science University of Central Florida P.O. Box 162367 Orlando, FL 32816-2367 Phone: 407-823-6469 Fax: 407-823-3162 E-mail: natlctr@mail.ucf.edu The newest addition to the NLECTC system, this facility is housed in the University of Central Florida and initially will focus on arson and explosives research. Its mission is to conduct fundamental research into the basic nature of fire and explosion reactions, provide the support to develop standard protocols for analyzing arson and explosion debris, promote the use of electronic media to access and exchange information about the forensic sciences, and provide educational opportunities to practicing professionals and full-time students. This new facility will draw on the experience and expertise of the university, which houses a forensic science program with an active research program, as well as the Institute of Simulation and Training, which is currently exploring ways to simulate explosive reactions to study various chemical processes. --------------------------- New Publications The following publications/videos are available from the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center-National: (Coming Soon) Selection and Application Guide to Personal Body Armor (Revised). This guide, an update of the October 1998 publication, responds to questions about the selection and use of body armor for law enforcement. It responds to commonly expressed concerns and provides information to help determine the level of protection required by officers. This guide provides information on the newly released 0101.04 ballistic-resistant standard and the new stab-resistant standard (NIJ Standard-0115.00). (Coming Soon) A Resource Guide to Law Enforcement, Corrections, and Forensic Technologies: Office of Justice Programs and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. This first-of-its-kind resource guide delivers valuable information on law enforcement and corrections technology programs and activities of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, including available technologies; funding sources and demonstration programs; equipment standards, testing, and evaluation; current research and development initiatives; and training. 2001 Model Year Patrol Vehicle Testing. This report provides a complete listing of the data, including summary charts, resulting from the Michigan State Police's 2001 patrol vehicle testing. Equipment Performance Report: 2000 Evaluation of Replacement Brake Pads for Police Patrol Vehicles. This report presents complete results of the latest comprehensive evaluation of replacement brake pads for police patrol vehicles. 2000 Mock Prison Riot Video. This videotape features technologies used to quell a mock prison riot staged by the National Institute of Justice's Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization. Emerging technologies were incorporated into training scenarios to demonstrate the latest crimefighting technologies. Equipment Performance Report: Effectiveness of Tire Deflation Devices Against Self- Sealing and Run-Flat Tires. This report details the results of an evaluation of tire deflation devices, which were tested using several brands of self-sealing and run-flat tires. The devices are for use by law enforcement during pursuits. (Note: This report is available only to law enforcement agencies and must be requested via a written request on department letterhead to NLECTC, P.O. Box 1160, Rockville, MD 20849-1160.) A Guide for Applying Information Technology in Law Enforcement. This publication seeks to help law enforcement professionals choose the information technologies that best suit their needs and incorporate them into their day-to-day operations. This guide is intended to help law enforcement practitioners plan and implement information system upgrades and address connectivity and data sharing issues. (Coming Soon) Less-Than-Lethal Weapons: Reference Collection. This document presents less-than-lethal weapons references organized by specific weaponry/technology and organizational/conceptual categories. --------------------------- Sign Up To Receive Free Reports From the National Criminal Justice Reference Service In addition to funding the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center, NIJ supports the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), an international clearinghouse on crime and justice information. NCJRS staff respond to reference questions, provide referrals to other resources, distribute NIJ and other Office of Justice Programs (OJP) documents, and maintain a mailing list of more than 45,000 registered users. In addition, NCJRS sponsors a calendar of events at http://www.eventcalendar.ncjrs.org, which lists conferences and meetings of interest to the criminal justice community. If you are interested in signing up for the NCJRS mailing list, you may request a registration form using any of the following methods: Fax-on-Demand. Dial 800-851-3420, select option 1, then option 1 again. The registration form is #1 on the document index. The form will be faxed to you immediately. Fax. Fax your request for a registration form to 410-792-4358. You will receive a form promptly in the mail. Online. Go to http://www.ncjrs. org/puborder and request registration form BC640. It will be sent to you in the mail. Or, actually register online at http://www.ncjrs. org/register. Write. Send a written request to NCJRS, P.O. Box 6000, Rockville, MD 20849-6000. Call. Call an NCJRS information specialist and request a registration form. The number is 800-851-3420. As a registered user, you will receive the bimonthly NCJRS Catalog, the NCJRS Users Guide, and news and announcements of new publications and resources based on your criminal justice interests. For more information about NIJ and NCJRS, visit their websites: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij http://www.ncjrs.org. --------------------------- All About Tech Beat TechBeat is the award-winning flagship publication of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) system. Our goal is to keep you up to date with technologies currently being developed by the NLECTC system, as well as other research and development efforts within the Federal Government and private industry. TechBeat is published four times a year. 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