Internet Use to Solve Crimes

Internet Use to Solve Crimes

The internet has been called the "information superhighway" for its vast array of uses today. What started in 1973 as a research program by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or ARPAnet soon developed into a set of protocols (Macmillan 2006). This set is now well-known as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol or TCP/IP. After 1991, businesses discovered its benefits and it became more and more popular as a marketing tool. In time, other incredible applications have been used to benefit other sectors. Today, the internet is used throughout the world to find general information, to access information, to correspond with people in distant places, to meet them to have fun, to learn, to buy or sell, to obtain software, to make money or share knowledge (Macmillan). Broadly, it is used for communication, to find people, places, things, and to have fun (SAMS 2006). For its versatility, the internet has also been helpful in the work of law enforcement.

According to a recent study on the present and future use of the internet by law enforcement, more than half of the largest law enforcement agencies in the U.S.A. And Canada maintain their own internet websites (Tully and Mckee 2000). Among the uses of these websites are to inform or educate the public about the organization, establish better public relations, communication with the public through emails, provide educational materials to the public, publicize case information, gather information from the public, to recruit employees, provide employment applications, conduct surveys, call for volunteers for public service and respond to press or public criticisms and comments (Tully and Mckee). There are forensic science journals, magazines, books and case files available to law enforcers on the internet (Holt 2000). They can also access websites for billions of records or to track down suspects at a distance and with a few clicks of the mouse (Heffernan 2006). Among the specific uses of the internet to law enforcement are crime mapping; corrections, parole and probation; and emergency or event management (Geographic Information Systems 2006).

The increased use of Geographic Information Systems in crime mapping has also increased public access to crime data mainly through the internet (Geographic Information Systems 2006). Among the first law enforcement agencies to place crime maps on the internet was the Police Department of Vacaville, California in 1995. Since then, many other agencies followed the trend. However, the easy availability of crime data has troubled right-to-privacy advocates, real estate developers and their agents. These advocates expressed apprehension about backlashes towards former felons, especially convicted sex offenders and domestic violence criminals. Real estate developers and their agents feared that such data would reduce housing prices. This is because much of the information for crime mapping is readily available through the internet (Geographic Information Systems). Citizens can now have access to the same kind of crime data exclusive only to the police in the past (Dozono 2001). Technology has placed these data within the easy access of the community as a link to the goal of reducing crime and the fear of crime. Crime mapping tools have been in use since the 1970s and computer-based crime mapping tools evolved in the 1980s, with an internal mapping network going online in early 1998. Crime mapping displays information on major reported crime categories, such as assault, arson, burglary, homicide, larceny, robbery, sexual assaults and vehicle thefts. By using a street address or intersection, an internet user can create a map, showing the number of reported crimes or the specific crime density. The user can also submit reports and visuals on the type of crime on the specific time of commission (Dozono).

Law enforcement has also found the internet beneficial in its corrections, parole, and probation (Geographic Information Systems 2006). Through Geographic Information Systems or GIS applications, corrections officers can investigate random criteria and display them as interfaces or maps. They can map inmate populations, fixtures and equipment to insure the safety of inmates, separate gang members, identify high or potentially violent inmates and identify dangerous locations in a given facility. Through these applications, corrections officers can also help reduce internal violence by providing better command and control. These interfaces include criminal intelligence information, such as photographs, fingerprints and documents. These information can be transferred or shared with institutions. These functions, in combination with location identification devices facilitate the tracking down of the movements of high-risk inmates or at-risk personnel in any facility or area. For parole and probation functions, these internet applications perform client mapping and allow better and more efficient workload distribution according to user-determined criteria. Automated routing enables an officer to conduct residence checks and related activities and saves hours of preparation time every week. This, in turn, reduces lead time for route planning and monitors cost per visit (Geographical Institute Systems).

The safety and security of citizens and the community are another primary concern and responsibility of the government (Geographic Institute Systems 2006). In addressing this function, law enforcement agencies must endeavor to adapt scarce resources with the demands of their ever-increasing calls for service. This service spans traditional protection and service and new tasks on homeland security and technology plays a very vital role. GIS applications assist with many different strategic and tactical problems, such as warrant services, SWAT incidents, domestic terrorism, search and rescue operations, disasters, court presentations and other activities and requirements. In emergencies and disaster events, applications like GIS, share information and quickly share information and facilitate the decision-making process. They help manage major events such as presidential conventions, civil disturbances, natural calamities, toxic spills. These applications enable law enforcement agencies not only to adequately respond to emergency but also plan, mitigate, prepare and implement recovery goals and steps. Natural calamities or disorders caused by people begin locally and elevate to the regional, state or country levels, depending on the seriousness, complexity and the nature of the event. At times like these, law enforcement agencies need the right and sufficient information at the right time in order to deploy proper resources, implement appropriate plans, provide the proper assistance and manage the particular event or emergency as it unfolds (GIS). The internet has been an invaluable tool in carrying this essential function out.