Title: TechBeat Summer 2001
Series: N/A
Author: National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center
Published: July 2001
Subject: Technology for Law Enforcement
pages: 12
bytes: 81KB

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 800-248-
2742.

---------------------------

National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center
TechBeat Summer 2001
Dedicated to Reporting Developments in Technology for Law Enforcement,
Corrections, and Forensic Sciences

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Body Armor on Board

With more than 300 officers patrolling a 1,500-square-mile area, 80 percent of
them on foot and bike, coupled with Washington, D.C.'s oppressively hot and
humid summers, the police department of the Washington Metropolitan Area
Transit Authority needed to find body armor that would give its officers an
appropriate level of ballistic protection yet be lightweight and comfortable. 

Metro Transit's body armor selection committee put more than a year into the
search. Some of that time was spent in consultation with the National Law
Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC)-National in
nearby Rockville, Maryland, which operates the National Institute of Justice's
(NIJ's) ballistic- and stab-resistant body armor testing and compliance
program.

"I don't know how some of our guys stand it in the summer," says Officer Barry
E. Housel, Metro Transit Tactics/ Firearms Instructor and the point man for
research on the selection committee. "We needed to find armor that used the
latest technology yet was more wearable for field officers. We ended up
stopping at NLECTC quite a bit for advice on how to proceed." 



Housel estimates that he visited NLECTC three times and exchanged a number
of e-mails. Another committee member, Officer Jeff Sesok, says he visited
NLECTC seven times and lost count of the telephone calls he made.
"NLECTC pretty much rolled out the red carpet for us," Housel says. "If they
couldn't see us that day, they saw us the next business day. They also made
sure we had plenty of copies of their Selection and Application Guide to Police
Body Armor, which offered us a step-by-step plan to follow." 

According to Housel, the selection committee, which included a member from
each of the department's five field divisions, focused first on the level of
protection the new armor would need to provide. Metro Transit's jurisdiction
covers not only the District of Columbia but extends into a number of counties
and cities in Maryland and Virginia. Sesok says the committee visited area
police departments to ask about the firearms their officers were confiscating off
the street. The committee also considered the firearms its own officers were
seizing as well as those issued to them by their department. 

Based on their findings, the committee selected Protection Level III-A. "We
were kind of on the bubble between [Protection Level] II and III-A," Housel
says. "We could have gone with the lower threat level of II, but we scoured the
Selection and Application Guide frontwards and backwards. Our final
determination was based on the information in the guide as well as our
conversations with the body armor testing staff at NLECTC. They were able to
answer our questions and concerns." 

Sesok says that once the committee decided what threat protection level it
needed, it addressed wearability issues. Because he spends most of his time on
a bicycle, riding up to 15 to 20 miles a day, Sesok wanted to be sure his new
vest would be comfortable. NLECTC staff provided the committee information
and resources about the types of ballistic material on the market, he says. They
also provided a list of the models of body armor that complied with NIJ's
ballistic body armor standards. 

Once the committee decided what type of ballistic material it preferred, it had
to select a carrier-the removable, washable garment that contains the ballistic
panels and holds them next to the torso. 

"We wanted something that would mold to the officer's body better than our
old ones did," Housel says. "We also received information from NLECTC
regarding carriers, and we were amazed at the different types available.
Committee members along with several other officers tested various types of
armor for several months. We ran into a number of problems involving too-rigid
armor and awkward fastenings. Female officers in particular had difficulty
finding a good fit. But our aim from the get-go was to get our people a
wearable fit without compromising ballistic integrity." 

Sesok says the committee eventually met with a vendor who created a new
model to Metro Transit's specifications. "We were told it was the talk of a trade
show when the company first exhibited it," he says. "It has since passed NIJ
compliance testing." Sesok points out, however, that in development of the new
model, NIJ standards and NLECTC-National's reputation helped settle an
issue regarding the overlap between the front and back panels. "The Selection
and Application Guide to Police Body Armor recommends a 2-inch overlap
between the panels," Sesok says. "This company said they didn't do it. We had
a meeting and pointed out the recommendation to them. They said, 'We'll do it.'"

As for the new armor, "The difference is just unbelievable," Sesok says. "With
the old vests, on a hot summer day, you could almost feel the steam coming off
your body when you took it off. It was like a sigh of relief. We're hoping that
our new model will encourage more officers to wear their armor all the time."

Housel says NLECTC-National also made sure the selection committee knew
about the Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Grant Act of 1998, which pays
up to 50 percent of the cost of new NIJ-approved armor. Housel had read
about the BVP on the Internet. To date, Metro Transit has received almost
$100,000 in grant money. 

"Our command staff, meaning the chief and deputy chiefs, let us do what we
needed to do to get it done," Housel says. "We're very fortunate that NLECTC
was this close. If I could say one thing to another department, it would be to
utilize NIJ and NLECTC as much as possible. The handbook and the
resources they have give you credibility when talking with armor vendors. This
really should be a department's first stop." 

"It really shows them that you're an informed consumer, like reading Consumer
Reports before you buy a car," Sesok adds. 

For information about body armor selection, call the National Law Enforcement
and Corrections Technology Center, Rockville, Maryland, 800-248-2742.

---------------------------

Training All Locked Up 



It is a damp and dreary stone fortress. Its dank 5- by 7-foot cells, stacked four
stories high, once held more than 2,500 maximum-security inmates. It was
abandoned in 1995 when the West Virginia Supreme Court declared it
uninhabitable. Today, inside the walls of the West Virginia State Penitentiary in
Moundsville, paint peels, rust accumulates, and the only voices echoing off its
walls are those of intrepid tourists who pay $8 for a tour. 

During the past few years, however, the Moundsville Economic Development
Council (MEDC) has been breathing new life into this gothic style prison,
turning it into a training facility unlike any other. 

Its new name is the National Corrections and Law Enforcement Training and
Technology Center (NCLETTC). And while some portions have been
renovated to create classrooms, much of the facility remains untouched. 

"We set off flash-bangs, we rappel off the tops of the buildings, we cut doors
off with blowtorches. There aren't very many facilities where you can get such
realistic training," says Steve Morrison, interim NCLETTC executive director.
Other types of hands-on training include scenarios involving cell extractions,
prisoner restraint and control, evidence collection, command post operations,
hostage negotiations, bomb/explosives detection, entry procedures, high-risk
transportation, aircraft escapes, crowd control, and media interaction. 

With Federal grant funding and a board of directors that includes executives
from the National Institute of Corrections, American Correctional Association,
and the American Jail Association, this nonprofit center has put together a
roster of courses specifically for corrections personnel. Training takes place in
three new classrooms, one of which doubles as a computer and crime mapping
training lab. 

The prison also offers a testbed and showcase for new and emerging
technologies. Vendors are invited to demonstrate new products onsite, or they
can loan them to the prison and let staff demonstrate them to incoming classes. 

"In short, we provide four options," Morrison says. "One, students can attend
courses offered by the NCLETTC. Two, vendors can rent the facility to
provide a demonstration of their products to practitioners, with NCLETTC
assisting the vendor with marketing and advertising if needed. Three, technology
developers can install their products, which are then evaluated by staff and
students. And four, we offer facility rental only, where an agency can rent the
facility to provide training to its own staff using its own trainer, course materials,
and supplies."



In addition, Morrison says, every spring for the last 4 years the penitentiary has
been the site of the Annual Mock Prison Riot, hosted by the Office of Law
Enforcement Technology Commercialization, a program of the National
Institute of Justice. This event gives corrections administrators and tactical
teams from across the country an opportunity to use and evaluate emerging
technologies in riot training scenarios. Ultimately the event helps determine the
effectiveness of the technologies by employing them in realistic situations and
then allowing for suggestions to modify them. The event also provides
corrections personnel training on how to best approach and handle a riot
situation. 

"We're now also expanding our scope from corrections and law enforcement to
all public safety responders," Morrison says. "We're developing classes for
EMTs, nurses, doctors in trauma units, and firefighters who respond to HazMat
incidents." 

For more information about the National Corrections and Law Enforcement
Training and Technology Center and classes currently available, call Steve
Morrison, 877-625-3882. For more information about the Annual Mock
Prison Riot, call the Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization,
888-306-5382.

---------------------------

Body Armor: Details Count 

When law enforcement personnel come face to face with armed suspects, they
do not think about the "details" of their body armor-the layers of material, the
stitching, or how the label is worded. Their only concern is the ability of that
armor to stop a bullet. 

But day in and day out, a staff of body armor testing technicians at the National
Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) National Law Enforcement and Corrections
Technology Center (NLECTC)- National in Rockville, Maryland, pay close
attention to the "details" of ballistic body armor. This attention to detail has
helped save the lives of law enforcement officers. 

"NLECTC-National has provided third-party oversight and management of
NIJ's body armor testing program since the mid-1980s," says Lance Miller,
Equipment Testing Program Manager. "Our testing program staff are mostly
former law enforcement officers; one still is. That experience gives them an
added awareness of the impact of what they do. The work isn't highly technical,
but it is very detail oriented. You can't take what you do casually because it
ultimately affects the safety of law enforcement officers all over the world. We
oversee the testing of an average of 250 to 300 models of ballistic body armor
every year." 

To have its body armor tested, a manufacturer must contract with an
NIJ-approved independent testing laboratory, Miller explains. The
manufacturer schedules the tests and pays any associated fees. The
manufacturer must send six armor samples to NLECTC-National
approximately 2 weeks before the scheduled test date. When
NLECTC-National receives the samples, testing staff examine all of them to
see that they meet labeling and workmanship requirements before forwarding
them to the testing laboratory for penetration and blunt trauma testing. 

"We look for general, commonsense, visual things when the vests come in,"
says Alex Sundstrom, one of three full-time equipment testing technicians. "We
check the seams and stitching to make sure they're secure and that nothing is
hanging loose. If there are fastenings, we make sure they're on securely and that
they do actually fasten. We make sure the ballistic panels fit properly into the
carrier." 

Even the labels on the armor are checked, Sundstrom says. Although NIJ
standards specify what information needs to be on each model label and
provide samples, the amount of detail the labels must have often presents the
biggest challenge to manufacturers, especially those just starting with the
program. "We encourage them to fax us labels ahead of time," he says, "so we
can point out things that they will need to fix." 

If the six armor samples meet the labeling and workmanship criteria, they are
sent on to a testing laboratory. Four samples undergo penetration and blunt
trauma impact testing. If these four samples pass, the fifth sample undergoes
Baseline Ballistic Limit testing. The sixth is a reserve. Following these tests, the
laboratory checks each piece of armor for inconsistencies in construction. 

"All six sample vests must be made the same way," Sundstrom says. "The lab
counts how many layers of each kind of bullet-resistant fabric make up the
armor. They check the stitching to make sure all have the exact same pattern.
And they use a commercial linen counter to check the thread count in the
material's weave. This information is sent back to us in a report. Once we
receive the samples and report back from the laboratory we not only make sure
the laboratory placed the shots accurately, we also reverify all the construction
information contained in the report. Any inconsistency, no matter how slight,
may make a difference in how the armor performs in the field." 


"Historically, about 50 percent of everything we test fails," Miller says. "The
standard is pass/fail: if you fail, you fail. In addition, we do not rate the armor
that passes as good, better, or best. What is 'best' varies according to each
department's needs. There are a number of issues for agencies purchasing
armor to consider, but we're an important first step in ensuring the armor they
buy is safe and reliable." 

As Miller points out, law enforcement agencies also face an ongoing issue about
how well armor works after it has been in service for a period of time. That is
why the Baseline Ballistic Limit test was added in October 2000. This test, he
says, is based on the military V50 test, which determines the velocity at which a
particular type of bullet will penetrate a given armor model 50 percent of the
time. Several years later, if a department performs the same test on another
sample of the same model, a result outside that limit will show that something
has changed. The manufacturer may have used different materials, or the
materials themselves may have degraded during use. Because the Baseline
Ballistic Limit test was added just last year, law enforcement agencies have not
yet used its results. 

Miller says almost 3,000 armor models have undergone NIJ compliance testing
since 1987. NLECTC-National permanently archives the samples in a secure
offsite facility. The archived armor has proven its value on several occasions.
"Law enforcement agencies have come to us because they did their own testing
on vests and want to compare them with the vest we tested, or they purchased
vests as part of a major procurement and they want to be sure what they
bought is the same as what we tested," he says. "We have found differences on
some occasions. The agencies then go back to the manufacturer and work
things out." 

"In some cases," he says, "NIJ has revoked the compliance status of models
based on our findings of inconsistent construction if the manufacturer would not
or could not provide an acceptable explanation of why the construction details
were changed." 

Testing staff can also go into the archive if they suspect a manufacturer is
resubmitting a vest that failed under a different model designation. "When a vest
fails, the manufacturer loses that particular model designation forever. They will
change whatever they think needs to be changed in regards to the construction
of the vest, and send it back, but it will have a new model number," Miller says.
"We're not in the business of telling manufacturers how to make vests. We don't
endorse any particular material or type of construction. We leave that up to the
industry, and they're always looking for ways to improve." 


One way for agencies to keep up with ballistic armor models that have passed
compliance testing is the Consumer Product List for Police Body Armor. Until
several years ago, laboratories prepared their reports in proprietary software
and gave NLECTC-National paper copies. "We kept manual records, and it
was an absolute nightmare to try to do any kind of research or analysis about
the testing program," Miller says. "But in the mid-1990s, we developed an
electronic database of testing results. We used to publish the Consumer
Product List in hardcopy. The problem was, by the time we sent it to the
printer, it was outdated. It wasn't giving law enforcement agencies timely,
accurate information. Now, as we add new models to the list, we hit the switch
and they're in the database. This database is available through the NLECTC
system website at www.nlectc.org 24 hours a day. In addition, we provide a
weekly download to the U.S. Department of Justice's Bulletproof Vest
Partnership (BVP) Grant program to keep the BVP database current as well." 

Soon, Miller says, laboratory staff will be able to use a new reporting tool to
enter and upload information directly into the database. This will help save time
and reduce errors caused by rekeying from paper copies.

Although revised standards and new technologies have created changes, Miller
says the biggest impact on the testing program has been the growing number of
armor manufacturers. "The number of manufacturers has increased
exponentially, to almost 100," he says, "and many of those new manufacturers
are located outside the United States. We've tested armor from almost every
continent in the world." 

In fact, according to Miller, almost 50 percent of manufacturers currently
sending armor for testing are from outside the United States. Why? Because a
growing number of foreign law enforcement agencies also require NIJ
compliance of their armor. Also, with the recently revised NIJ standards,
NLECTC has seen a large increase in the amount of armor sent for testing in
the past 6 months. 

"But no matter where the armor comes from, it goes through the same process
and receives the same careful attention every step of the way," he says. "We
have a system in place to track where a piece of armor is at all times. We can
tell a manufacturer with 100-percent accuracy where a particular model vest is
at any point in time. It is just one more aspect of that ongoing attention to
detail." 

"There are more than 17,000 law enforcement agencies in the United States,"
Miller adds. "Many of them are small and don't have the resources to test the
equipment they buy. Through our testing program, we can help them make
informed decisions about body armor. And of course, the best part of the
service for them is that it's free. 

"In 20-plus years of testing, NIJ-approved armor has never failed to meet its
intended level of protection in the field. We're very proud of that. It's ultimately
what we hang our hat on, and what instills confidence in our program by law
enforcement agencies." 

For more information about ballistic body armor standards and testing, contact
Alex Sundstrom at the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology
Center in Rockville, Maryland, 800-248-2742. To obtain a copy of the
Selection and Application Guide to Personal Body Armor or NIJ
Standard-0101.04, Ballistic Resistance of Personal Body Armor, log on to
www.nlectc.org. 

--------------------------

You Just Can't Throw It Away 

The Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Grant Act of 1998 has helped many
law enforcement agencies buy the ballistic- resistant armor they need. In some
cases, a department already has serviceable armor but needs a different type,
perhaps because the threat level in its jurisdiction has increased. This can create
a dilemma: What to do with the old armor? 

"Most of the materials used to make body armor don't degrade, so you can't
put the vests in a landfill," says Lance Miller, Equipment Testing Program
Manager for the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology
Center (NLECTC)-National. "They're also cut resistant, so you can't take a
pair of heavy-duty shears and slice them up. They're flame resistant, so you
can't burn them. And you don't want them anywhere that the general public can
get their hands on them." 

At one time, Miller says, departments were encouraged to give their armor to
smaller law enforcement agencies that could not afford to buy their own.
Thanks to the BVP grant, however, it has become harder to find small
jurisdictions that need donations. Under this act, law enforcement agencies can
apply online to buy armor, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance will match up
to 50 percent of costs, including shipping and taxes. More than half of the
agencies that have taken advantage of this program serve areas with
populations of less than 100,000. 



Law enforcement agencies looking to dispose of old armor have several
options. Although departments may not have the tools to cut up armor, Miller
says, some manufacturers have equipment that chops it into small pieces that
are recycled into other materials. Agencies should contact their armor
manufacturers to find out if this is an option. 

Agencies might consider using the armor to provide extra protection inside the
door panels of cruisers or behind desks and partitions in work areas, or as
backstop material at indoor firing ranges. If an agency places armor in any of
these areas, it should remove any trauma packs or hard armor inserts. The
agency should remove the armor from cars or other equipment before selling or
discarding the equipment. 

If the old armor is still serviceable, Miller suggests that agencies use it in their
training academies. "A department may want to issue the old armor to its
recruits and make them wear it. This will get them used to wearing vests on a
daily basis. If they get used to it in training, they'll wear it later. The armor can
be passed from class to class as new officers are issued their own armor." 

NLECTC-National is now exploring taking donations of used ballistic body
armor. Miller says that if the law enforcement agency can document how the
armor was used-not only the purchase date but whether it was worn daily by a
patrol officer, occasionally by a detective, or kept in storage-NLECTC might
be interested in using it for research. Details regarding this program will be
forthcoming. 

For more information about the disposal of body armor, contact Lance Miller
at the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center in
Rockville, Maryland, 800-248-2742. For more information about the
Bulletproof Vest Partnership Act, log on to http://vests.ojp.gov or call the U.S.
Department of Justice Response Center at 800-421-6770. 

---------------------------

Testing, Testing

The ballistic-resistant body armor testing program operated by the National
Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) National Law Enforcement and Corrections
Technology Center (NLECTC)-National is its most extensive and well-known
testing program, but it is not the only one. NLECTC also administers seven
other law enforcement equipment testing programs. These testing programs fall
into two groups: standards-based testing and comparative evaluation or field
testing. 

In standards-based testing, equipment is tested on a pass/fail basis against
standards developed by the Office of Law Enforcement Standards. Equipment
that passes is listed as complying with NIJ standards. Manufacturers submit
their equipment for voluntary testing and have some input into standards
development. Standards-based testing programs cover: 

o Ballistic-resistant body armor. 
o Stab-resistant body armor. 
o Double-locking metallic handcuffs. 
o Semiautomatic pistols. 

Equipment that passes standards-based testing is published in the appropriate
consumer product list (CPL). All CPLs are available through the NLECTC
website at www.nlectc.org. Semiautomatic pistol information is available in print
form by calling 800-248-2742. 

The second category of testing is comparative evaluation, in which equipment is
tested under field conditions and the results published. This allows law
enforcement agencies to select equipment that best suits their needs. For
example, some tires perform better on wet roads, while others do better on dry
roads. A law enforcement agency in Seattle might choose a different tire for
their cruisers than one in Phoenix. Comparative evaluations are conducted on: 

o Patrol vehicles. 
o Patrol vehicle tires. 
o Replacement brake pads. 
o Cut-, puncture-, and pathogen- resistant protective gloves. 

Complete results of these tests are published in a series of equipment
performance reports, available on the NLECTC system website at
www.nlectc.org. Printed copies may be obtained by calling NLECTC-
National, 800-248-2742.

---------------------------

TechShorts

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. 

Stopped by a Sponge 
Press-Enterprise (Riverside, California) 
Police departments in California are being inundated with increasingly humane
weaponry options when confronted with situations that do not call for lethal
force. The idea behind these devices is to stun an individual with the force of
impact without causing a life-threatening injury. In a recent survey, the
California Association of Tactical Officers found that out of 1,000 incidents
involving less-than-lethal weapons over the last 5 years, the skin was not
broken on the individual who was hit in 80 percent of the cases. The fatality
rate was just over 1 percent, and victims sustained no injuries at all 6.5 percent
of the time. For years, area police departments have used beanbag guns or
plastic bullets to diffuse situations that call for less-than-lethal force; but the
latest technology used by the Corona Police Department, the sponge launcher,
is cutting edge. According to Riverside County Assistant Sheriff Steve
Bloomquist, the sponge launcher is the most simple and effective product
available, outperforming its counterparts in distance and accuracy. 

Satellites To Keep Track of Offenders 
Kansas City Star 
The Kansas Corrections Department plans to use a satellite tracking system to
keep an eye on offenders who violate terms of their release from prison, as an
alternative to sending them back. The offenders will spend much of the day at
one of three day-reporting centers, except when they are at work or partaking
in another approved activity. A new 24-hour surveillance system using Global
Positioning System technology will allow authorities to track offenders street by
street through ankle bracelets worn by the lawbreakers, who also must carry a
pack containing a mobile receiver. A monitoring station receives data from two
dozen satellites to track the delinquents. If an offender deviates from his
assigned route home, authorities can receive a report the next day telling them
where the person went. While at the day centers, offenders can receive
substance abuse treatment, drug testing, and life-skills training. The cost of the
new system is $10.49 a day for each offender, while keeping someone in prison
costs five times as much. The program is an attempt to head off new prison
construction and provide additional supervision to those who currently abide by
the rules. 

Bullet Trajectory Reconstruction With Argon-Ion Lasers 
Law Enforcement Technology 
A new portable laser may offer the means to establish bullet trajectories by
shooting colored light, which can travel up to 1,000 feet, through bullet holes.
An argon-ion laser is being used by the Police Department of West Valley City,
Utah. The department shot colored lasers through a bullet-riddled car to locate
a missing bullet that had passed through and embedded itself one city block
away in a building wall. 

Online Police Auction Site: PropertyRoom.com 
Business Wire 
Property Bureau of San Clemente, California, has announced the launch of
PropertyRoom.com, an online police auction site offering a single location for
local law enforcement agencies to sell seized, recovered, or unclaimed
property. The site will feature a wide array of quality, new and used
merchandise ranging from jewelry, stereos, electronic equipment, and television
sets to computers, collectibles, and cameras. The site also has a unique
"StealItBack" section, in which users can register goods that have been stolen
from them. Once registered, if these items are received by Property Bureau,
they will be returned to their owner free of charge. According to the Federal
Trade Commission, auction fraud has been the highest source of
Internet-related consumer complaints to the Federal Government.
PropertyRoom.com's merchandise has all been thoroughly inspected and
documented to minimize opportunities for fraud. 

Restrictions, 'Lethal Fences' Reduce Prison Escapes
USA Today 
Though sometimes at the expense of making prison life even more harrowing,
corrections systems throughout the United States have taken major strides in
lowering inmate escape rates in recent years. Perhaps the largest contributor to
keeping inmates locked up has been the introduction of electric fences, also
known as "lethal fences." These barriers are set up around the perimeter of the
facility and often carry 10,000 volts of electricity, more than enough to take a
human's life. Given that the tops of the fences are covered in concertina wire,
there is really no way out once the fence becomes functional. Another popular
method of decreasing the likelihood of prison breaks is the implementation of
"super-maximum security" facilities. Super-maximum jails, which have become
extremely popular over the last 5 years, require all inmates to remain locked in
their cells with the exception of 1 hour each day when they are allowed to
exercise. Cellblock cameras monitor the inmates at all times, and some prisons
are even equipped with in-cell showers, which cut back on prisoner movement.
Meals are shoved through narrow slots in the doors. Still another way
correctional facilities are keeping their prisoners in check is through
transportation systems. In Illinois jails, for example, no more than 50 of the
45,575 inmates in the system are shuttled from one location to another at any
one time. As a result, there has not been an escape for 11 years. Many prisons
also have begun more effectively separating gangs and interior criminal
organizations. Some prisons refuse to allow prisoners to put up pictures and
posters and do not allow any clothing apart from the standard uniform. 

Pawnshops Drawn Into Police Net
Los Angeles Times
A new law in California will require the State's 750 pawnshops to electronically
link their pawn slips to police agencies. Although the law took effect January 1,
compliance will not be required until the State's Department of Justice develops
software for the program. Under the new law, police officers will be able to
search through the pawn slips of virtually every pawnshop and secondary store
in the State. The law will save officers countless hours of time spent searching
for stolen merchandise. The Collateral Loan and Secondhand Dealers
Association, which represents the majority of California's pawnshops, is
backing the new law. Although some of California's pawnbrokers are
unconvinced that there is a need to track merchandise electronically, a similar
amount feel that the implementation of such a system will help legitimize what
many view as a shady business. 

Old Hands at Surveillance; Casinos Swear by Facial Recognition 
The Bergen Record (Hackensack, New Jersey)
Three of Atlantic City's 12 major casinos-Trump Marina, Trump Taj Mahal,
and Trump Plaza- have used facial recognition technology for years to identify
and catch cheaters. The biometric system, which focuses on the eyes and
translates the image of a face into a numerical code, was created by the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. When used with surveillance cameras
and a database of known cheaters, it can quickly identify a swindler and give
information about his or her operations. The database used by the Trump
businesses has about 10,000 photographs in it, provided by law enforcement
agencies, other casinos, and companies that sell databases on cheaters. 

Mounties Use Secret Cameras at Pearson 
Toronto Star 
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are using a controversial
computer face-recognition system to identify criminals at Pearson International
Airport in Canada. The system is similar to one used at Ontario casinos, and it
represents the first time a face-scanning system has been used at a North
American commercial airport. According to RCMP spokesperson Michele
Paradis, there is no general video scanning of travelers. Instead, when a
suspicious person is spotted and subsequently detained, the RCMP's system
uses face scans to help check identity and criminal record. 

Sheriff's New Computer System Can Send Fliers Anywhere Within Minutes 
Chicago Daily Herald 
A new police system, Technology to Recover Abducted Kids (TRAK), allows
police to quickly spread the word about missing children and kidnap victims
through electronic alerts and fliers with profiles and photos. Social Tech, a
nonprofit organization that developed the system, donated the $5,000
equipment to the DuPage, Illinois, police department and has set up the system
in 28 States. The system will also be used to provide communities with
information on bank robberies, murders, sex crimes, and attempted abductions.
Those agencies with a TRAK system will receive instant alerts about crimes,
and local businesses can have information delivered to them through their fax
machine. 

Weighty Issue: High-Tech Checks Let Truckers Pass Inspection Quickly 
Richmond Times-Dispatch 
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) recently unveiled its first
"motor carrier service center," an automated vehicle inspection system that
promises to reduce the time truckers spend at a weigh station. The service
center in Suffolk uses radio tags to identify incoming trucks, inductive sensors to
count their axles, scales that weigh the rigs while moving, and a computerized
database that can process and update the pertinent information on the trucks.
When a rig equipped with one of the program's radio transponders comes
within 2,000 feet of the service center, the database automatically identifies it.
At the same time, the rig passes over scales that can measure its weight within 2
percentage points while the rig is traveling at speeds up to 55 miles per hour.
Next, the rig's axles pass over electromagnetic loops equipped with
piezoelectric pressure sensors embedded in the roadway and induce a current
that counts the number of axles on the truck and their spacing. A computer then
checks the DMV database to ensure the rig is registered and that the taxes on it
have been paid, and processes the weight and axle information to determine if
the vehicle is in compliance with State law.

---------------------------

From Description to Prediction: Crime Mapping 

Nearly 70 percent of law enforcement agencies that employ 100 or more
officers and 40 percent of agencies with 50 to 99 officers now perform
mapping and analysis, according to preliminary findings of a Police Foundation
study. "Some are just getting started with purchasing the hardware and software
and they're preparing to climb what promises to be a very steep learning curve,"
says Rachel Boba, director of the Police Foundation's Crime Mapping
Laboratory. 

"Most people aren't using mapping and analysis in novel ways--it's still that
new," Boba says. "Some departments use [mapping] every month for their
stats. But people have done that for a long time. Being inventive is trying to use
mapping every day or every week, not limiting its use to putting out canned
reports, a list of crimes, or a table showing your statistics." [The Police
Foundation study, COMPSTAT and Organizational Change: A National
Assessment, funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), is scheduled to
be released in late 2001.] 

Spotting crime trends is part of the job, but so is finding more complex
relationships, such as how crime and the environment affect each other, or the
relationship between crime and a suspect's behavior, says Dan Helms, a crime
analyst with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 

Helms might look at whether streetlights influence robbery locations. He can
pull up data on locations, times, and victims of robberies (businesses and
individuals), then correlate them with data on streetlight locations. (Was a
streetlight close to the robbery location? Was it on or even working? Did
nearby trees or buildings create deep shadows?) He can break down the
robberies into areas that might be "naturally vulnerable," such as parks, or into
geographic or demographic areas to see what the locations have in common. 

"We can do the analysis on desktop in a matter of seconds," Helms says.
"Without this technology it would take months or years, and you could never do
it with just a map." He adds that information from this type of analysis links the
police department and the city to make vulnerable areas safer. 


In a case involving sexual attacks on juveniles, Helms says "dynamic movement
maps" that showed the movements of suspects under surveillance were
compared to the past movements of a serial offender. Helms says the serial
offender struck only in neighborhoods with single-family homes. He always
made two trips-the first to identify his victim; the second to commit the crime.
He never picked houses on a corner, but chose houses that allowed for quick
entry and exit. 

When the maps of the suspects' movements were overlaid with the past
movements of the serial offender, "it quickly became clear who the right one
was," Helms says. This information, coupled with other evidence, enabled
officers to clear the case. 

"Our real goal is to intercept crime," Helms says. "We want to predict the next
one. We did that in 1997 with a series of armed robberies. We started with a
150-square-mile area and 20,000 small businesses that matched our
parameters. Through analysis and mapping the suspect's underlying movement
pattern, we came up with three target locations. We were correct to within 1
hour of the robbery at the second location on our list." 

But analysts such as Helms are taking crime analysis a step further by
borrowing from other disciplines. He says the epidemiological model that the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses to map the spread of
a disease can be applied to the way criminal gangs are created and operate.
Just as CDC tracks down the original carrier of a disease, law enforcement can
trace the origins of a gang and identify and remove the "carriers." 

Similarly, according to some crime analysts, models drawn from studying animal
behavior may even help predict human behavior. Crime analysts are borrowing
from game hunting and the study of predatory movement. (Does the animal
pursue its prey or wait for the prey to come to it? What environmental factors
determine how, when, and why the animal hunts?) Analysts are applying
information gathered from the U.S. Geological Survey, the Alaska Biological
Research Center, and game parks in South Africa to the predatory behavior of
criminals. 

Where To Get Help 

Whether for law enforcement or corrections, an important requirement for any
crime mapping or crime analysis program is training. The NIJ Crime Mapping
and Analysis Program (CMAP) provides free training in crime mapping and
crime analysis. Courses are offered regularly at the National Law Enforcement
and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC)-Rocky Mountain in Denver,
Colorado, and at NLECTC-Southeast in Charleston, South Carolina. To learn
more about geographic information systems (GIS) or the CMAP training
schedule, contact Sean Bair at NLECTC-Rocky Mountain, 800-416-8086.

NIJ's Crime Mapping Research Center (CMRC) supports the development of
analytic mapping in criminal justice agencies. CMRC has developed training
and software to make it easier for agencies that are interested in using spatial
analysis to do so. CMRC has four training modules that are available on the
website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/cmrc/training/ download.html. They are all
PowerPoint presentations with extensive notes. 

o "What Is Crime Mapping?" provides a general introduction to crime mapping
and how it can be used in criminal justice agencies. 

o "Mapping for Managers" informs police managers about the types of
questions that can be answered using crime mapping. 

o "Crime Mapping for Community Policing and Problem Solving" offers specific
examples of how crime mapping can support problem solving efforts. 

o "Integrating GIS Into a Law Enforcement Agency" explains how to implement
a GIS. Special attention is paid to specific challenges of working within a law
enforcement agency. 

For new users of mapping technology who need to get a good overview but do
not have a lot of time to invest, CMRC has two new publications. First, new
users can get a comprehensive overview in plain language by reading Mapping
Crime Principle and Practice, which can be downloaded at
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/cmrc/pubs/welcome.html. 

For more hands-on experience, the center has a hands-on tutorial available
called CrimeMap. In order to meet the demand for more widely available crime
mapping training, CMRC commissioned the development of CrimeMap
Tutorial, a distance-learning tool developed by Professor Wil Gorr of Carnegie
Mellon University. This tutorial enables students to learn crime mapping from
their desktop or laptop computers at home or at work and is designed for
self-paced instruction. The purpose of the tutorial is to provide police with the
skills and knowledge to produce the day-to-day crime maps that have been
proven to help reduce crime. It has three parts: 1) using a crime-mapping GIS,
2) geocoding police data, and 3) building area and pin maps. The tutorial has
been tested at the 1999 Crime Mapping Research Center's Annual Conference
and is available on the Internet at
www.icpsr.umich.edu/NACJD/cmturorial.html. 

One major barrier to using GIS is the lack of software that is specifically geared
toward basic law enforcement tasks. The Community Policing Beat Book and
the Crime Analysis Extension software packages were developed to address
this need for easy-to-use software that automates routine crime analysis tasks.

o Community Policing Beat Book, developed under a cooperative agreement
between NIJ and the Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) using
MapObjects, is designed for use by officers on laptops in their cars or at
substations. Free download information is available at
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/cmrc/tools/welcome.html.

o Crime Analysis Extension for ArcView is designed to provide easy-to-use
tools for geographic crime analysis, data management, mapping, and reporting.
The software was developed under a cooperative agreement between NIJ and
the Environmental Systems Research Institute. Free download information is
available at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ cmrc/tools/welcome.html. 

o CrimeStat 1.0, a spatial statistics program for analyzing crime incident
locations, was developed to serve the needs of advanced users who are
interested in applying spatial statistics to criminal justice problems. The program
provides supplemental statistical tools to aid law enforcement agencies and
criminal justice researchers in their crime mapping efforts. 

NIJ's Crime Mapping Research Center also holds an annual conference that
offers an extensive array of workshops and presentations covering
state-of-the-art techniques in spatial analysis for criminal justice. This year's
conference will be held December 1-4 in Dallas, Texas, and will emphasize the
translation of research into practice. For the first time, NLECTC-Rocky
Mountain will be teaching a 2-day sequence on November 29 and 30 that will
feature hands-on desktop mapping training in both ArcView and MapInfo. This
is a great opportunity to get 6 days of training in one trip. For more information
about the conference and the hands-on training, please check the CMRC
website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/cmrc/conferences/welcome.html. 

Research Grants 

CMRC uses GIS to support multijurisdictional data sharing projects-the
Strategic Approaches to Community Safety Initiative (SACSI) and the
Community, Mapping, Planning, and Analysis for Safety Strategies
(COMPASS) initiative-that promote collaborative problem solving. NIJ has
funded an array of five different predictive modeling grants to develop
techniques that will allow police to become more proactive. In other words, the
center is trying to move beyond "description" to "prediction." 

One grant is testing the "broken windows" theory, which is based on the idea
that if the first broken window (or other signs of disorder) in a building is not
repaired, then people will assume that no one cares about the building and more
vandalism will occur. Eventually, burglars and robbers will begin victimizing
buildings and people in the area because they feel it is safe to do so since no
one "cares" what happens. In other words, their chances of being confronted
are very low so their probability of successfully completing their crimes is very
high. This theory endorses the belief that crime results from lack of
guardianship, as evidenced by signs of disorder (e.g., graffiti, broken windows,
etc.). So the best way to reduce crime is to concentrate on "cleaning up" an
area. The results of this grant to examine whether disorder breeds crime or
crime breeds disorder are expected by the fall of 2001 and will be available on
the NIJ website. 

Another initiative examines the behavior of drug dealers in creating illegal drug
markets to predict where drug markets tend to form and where they are likely
to be displaced if police action is taken. 

For more information about the Crime Mapping Research Center, call
202-514-3431 or e-mail cmrc@ojp.usdoj.gov. For a list of the publications
CMRC offers, see the Center's website:
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/cmrc/pubs/welcome.html. 

The following websites provide additional resource information concerning
crime mapping and crime analysis. Once logged on to each site's homepage,
locate the "Search" function and type in "crime map(ping)" or "crime analysis" to
generate a list of information resources that can be accessed. 

o Bureau of Justice Assistance: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bja 
o Crime Mapping Research Center: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/cmrc 
o National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center system:
www.nlectc.org l--National Institute of Justice: www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij 
o National Institute of Justice, Office of Science and Technology:
www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/sciencetech/ welcome.html 
o Office of Community Oriented Policing Services: www.usdoj.gov/cops 
o Office of Justice Programs: www.ojp.usdoj.gov 
o Police Foundation: www.policefoundation.org 

---------------------------

Getting Corrections on the Map 

Managing data is a huge task, but so is giving that data meaning. Rather than
dryly recounting statistics, agencies today use crime mapping and analysis tools
to turn data into useful information. 

Geographic information systems (GIS), which include crime mapping, global
positioning systems, and automatic vehicle locator systems, make this
conversion possible. GIS combines traditional database systems with graphics
components, allowing administrators to see crime trends on a map and analyze
that information in relation to other components such as time of day, area of the
city, or proximity to other facilities. 

GIS technology is not new to criminal justice. Police departments were creating
crime maps as early as 1960, but the technology came into widespread use in
the late 1990s. A recent example of the use of GIS in criminal justice is New
York City's COMPSTAT program, created in 1994. Using GIS,
COMPSTAT enables department executives and operations commanders to
see criminal activity displayed on a map for instant analysis. This capability
allows the department to identify and address crime patterns, trends, and
hotspots as they emerge. Some credit COMPSTAT with playing a part in the
decline in crime in New York City. 

But GIS is not just a tool for police departments. Corrections and probation
and parole agencies have begun to explore how GIS can assist them in daily
operations in institutional and community settings. 

Institutional Corrections 

The use of GIS in institutional settings requires a floor plan of the facility. Once
the facility layout is incorporated into the program, inmate demographics, gang
affiliations, location of assaults, or attempted escapes can be incorporated and
analyzed. Spatially displaying this data can lead to a better understanding of
events and incidents within the facility. For example, GIS can help analyze
inmate-on-inmate assaults so officials can prevent future assaults. GIS can show
whether the assaults are occurring in the same general location, on the same
shift, or where certain activities are in progress. 

Community Corrections

Caseload Assignments: Administrators can create a map of where offenders
live, then assign cases to probation or parole officer by neighborhood, so that
officers need not travel across the city or county to visit offenders' homes.
Many GIS software packages can also plan out the most efficient route an
officer can take to conduct home visits. The officer becomes more familiar with
the area, affording a greater opportunity to understand the offender's
environment and to work more closely with local treatment providers and law
enforcement agencies. 

Resource Allocation and Planning: Agencies can use GIS to plan and allocate
resources. If an agency plans to open a new reporting center, a map displaying
the density of offender residences, with an overlay of the public transportation
system, would be useful in determining its location. 

Managing Sex Offenders: Maps can highlight locations within a specified
distance of another location. Administrators can select and display all day care
centers, schools, or parks within a 1,000-foot radius of a registered sex
offender's residence. When a sex offender wants to move, GIS provides an
easy way to determine the new address's proximity to child care facilities. 

Getting Started With GIS 

To implement a GIS program, an agency must acquire the necessary hardware,
software, and base maps. The minimum hardware requirements include a 400
MHz computer containing at least 128 MB of RAM. A 21-inch monitor is
recommended and a printer/plotter is required to generate charts and reports.
Desktop GIS software is available for approximately $1,000 per license. 

For community-based applications, GIS maps may be available free of charge
through a city, State, or county engineering department. An institutional
application requires the conversion of the facility floor plan or blueprint into data
readable by the GIS software. 

For more information on corrections and crime mapping, contact Joe Russo at
the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center-Rocky
Mountain, 800-416-8086 or e-mail, jrusso@du.edu. 

---------------------------

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 also focuses on 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 L

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 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 personnel 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. 

NLECTC-Northwest
Anchorage, AK
In development.

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: info@brtc.nlectc.org 

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. 

Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center
Hazard, KY
In development. 

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. 

---------------------------

New Publications 

The following publications/videos are available from the National Law
Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center-National: 

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,
including available technologies; funding sources and demonstration programs;
equipment standards, testing, and evaluation; current research and development
initiatives; and training. 

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). 

A Guide for Applying Information Technology in Law Enforcement. This
publication helps 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. 

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.) 

Michigan State Police Tests 2002 Police Vehicles. This bulletin summarizes test
results from the Michigan State Police's annual evaluation of "police-package"
and "special-service" patrol vehicles. 

To obtain any of the above publications or videotapes or to receive additional
copies of the TechBeat newsletter, write NLECTC, P.O. Box 1160, Rockville,
MD 20849-1160; telephone 800-248-2742. Publications can also be
downloaded from JUSTNET at www.nlectc.org. 

---------------------------

An Explosive Database 

Bomb scene investigators are getting a big assist from the field of forensic
sciences through a project that ultimately will help them pinpoint not only the
manufacturer of an explosive but also the country where it was made. 

Housed at the National Institute of Justice's National Center for Forensic
Science at the University of Central Florida in Orlando, the project is headed
by Jehuda Yinon, Ph.D., a visiting professor from the Weizmann Institute of
Science in Rehovot, Israel. The goal of the project is to create a database of
explosives-a database detailed enough for law enforcement agencies to identify
the manufacturer as well as the country where the explosive was manufactured. 

Yinon says the underlying science for the project is based on processes already
found in crime laboratories, primarily liquid chromatography and mass
spectrometry, which are used to characterize organic compounds, such as in
the analysis of ink. By knowing the chemical compounds of various inks and
knowing the different chemicals each manufacturer uses from year to year,
forensic scientists can determine whether questioned documents are valid or
when they were created. The technique has been used in major tax fraud
investigations that require the authentication of receipts and documents. 

The explosives database will function in the same way. Each type of explosive,
whether it is TNT, C4, nitroglycerin, RDX, HMX, or PETN, will be chemically
analyzed and the results compiled in a database. Forensic scientists will then be
able to compare explosives associated with terrorists and bomb scene debris
containing explosives residues with samples in the database to determine the
type of explosive and its content and the manufacturer and country of origin. 

"If you know this information you can narrow down the investigation," Yinon
says. "What we have found in our preliminary investigation-and we started with
the most commonly used military explosive, which is TNT-is that TNT comes
from different sources and has small amounts of by-products and impurities in
it. The manufacture of TNT involves several solvents and other chemicals,
which are reagents in the manufacturing process. In each country, those
solvents and chemicals have different impurities and by-products as a result of
the manufacturing process. Explosives also have additives, which are put in on
purpose. Dyes, for example. One manufacturer can decide the explosive should
be yellow. Another wants it to be red or black. What we are trying to do is find
a way, by using such processes as liquid chromatography and mass
spectrometry, to determine those small impurities, by-products, and additives
and connect them to a manufacturer." 

When a full analysis of TNT is completed, Yinon says, the project will focus on
other types of explosives. He estimates that a comprehensive database is at
least 3 years away. When completed, the project may also prove useful to
environmental agencies as explosives are toxic compounds requiring special
disposal methods. Environmental agencies could use the database to identify
illegal dumping of explosives, which are hazardous materials. 

For more information regarding the explosives database, contact Jehuda Yinon,
407-823-6469, or e-mail jyinon@mail.ucf.edu.

---------------------------

NIJ Technology Institute for Corrections

Overview
For the fourth year, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is sponsoring its
annual Technology Institute for Corrections. This technology institute, scheduled
for November 11-16, 2001, in Washington, D.C., is designed for corrections
managers to learn about and discuss technology initiatives and issues affecting
the corrections community.

Agenda
During the weeklong institute, attendees will receive information and assistance
about existing and developing corrections technologies and problem solving
relating to technology implementation, and exchange technology lessons
learned. Attendees also will participate in briefings and demonstrations at
various locations in the metropolitan area, which may include the U.S.
Department of Justice, the National Institute of Justice's Office of Science and
Technology, the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology
Center, and local law enforcement or corrections facilities.

Goals
o To provide participants the opportunity for continued education on
technologies applicable to law enforcement and corrections.

o To provide participants the opportunity to meet and interact with other
corrections professionals.

o To provide NIJ the opportunity to improve and build upon its technology
development programs based upon participant experience and comments.

Registration
Attendance is limited to 25 mid-level managers from State and local corrections
and community corrections agencies who are involved with technology and
technology initiatives within their departments. An agency may submit one
applicant for consideration. All travel, lodging, and meal expenses for
participants are paid for by NIJ. Call Jack Harne at 800 248 2742, or e-mail
jharne@nlectc.org to receive an application or additional information.

Deadline
Deadline for receiving applications is September 30, 2001.

---------------------------

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. Managing Editor, Rick Neimiller; Contributing Editor/Writer, Lois Pilant;
Contributing Writer, Becky Lewis; Editor, Michele Coppola; Contributing
Editor, Brian Higgins; Graphic Designers, C. Denise Collins and Tina Kramer. 

Individual Subscriptions: TechBeat is available at no cost. If you are not
currently on our mailing list or need to change your mailing label information,
please call us at 800-248-2742 or e-mail us at asknlectc@nlectc.org.

Domestic Department Subscriptions: If your division, department, or agency
has more than 25 individuals, we can drop ship as many copies as you require.
All you have to do is provide us with the quantity needed, a shipping address
(no Post Office boxes, please), and a contact name and telephone number.
Your only obligation is to disseminate them once they arrive. If you require
fewer than 25 copies, please provide us with the names and addresses of
individuals who are to receive the newsletter and we will send copies directly to
them. Contact Rick Neimiller, TechBeat managing editor, at 800-248-2742,
for additional information or to subscribe. 

Article Reproduction: Unless otherwise indicated, all articles appearing in
TechBeat may be reproduced. We do, however, request that you include a
statement of attribution, such as: "This article taken from the Fall 1999 issue of
TechBeat, published by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections
Technology Center, a program of the National Institute of Justice,
800-248-2742." 

Questions/Comments/Story Ideas: We welcome all questions, comments, and
story ideas. Please contact Rick Neimiller, TechBeat managing editor, at
800-248-2742, or e-mail to rneimiller@nlectc.org. 

Awards: Techbeat has received numerous awards, including the 1998 Best of
Category, Excellence in Printing Award from the Printing & Graphic
Communications Association; the first place 1998 Blue Pencil Award for Most
Improved Periodical from the National Association of Government
Communicators; and the 1999 Silver Inkwell Award of Merit from the
International Association of Business Communicators. 

Photo Credits: Photos used in this issue of TechBeat copyright (c) PhotoDisc,
Inc.; Digital Vision; Dynamic Graphics; Comstock Royalty Free; Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority; Office of Law Enforcement Technology
Commercialization; and Aspen Systems Corporation.

---------------------------

www.nlectc.org

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.

Also Visit Our Booth

American Correctional Association 131st Congress of Correction
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
August 13 15, 2001
Booth 1320 1326

108th Annual International Chiefs of Police Conference
Toronto, Canada
October 27 30, 2001
Booth 3746 3750

---------------------------

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.

---------------------------

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Fax. Fax your request for a registration form to 410-792-4358. You will
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