Digital evidence gathered from phones, computers, and other electronic devices is vital to many criminal investigations in the modern age. To fully gather and use this evidence in court and as evidence, law enforcement agencies need the proper equipment. Many times, this equipment is expensive, not readily available for use when needed, and do not fit into government department’s budgets.…
A new method of DNA analysis has helped identify multiple victims in cold cases nationwide. The lab at University of California, Santa Cruz has been conducted a new type of DNA tests with hair. Officials in New Hampshire contacted the scientists who were able to use the new test help identify victims in the cold case murders at Bear Brook…
Inconsistent data isn’t just a problem in the criminal justice system-it could make the difference between someone going free or serving time regardless of guilt. The California state legislature has passed a bill, AB-1331, that would improve data handling for criminal justice. The measure would set clear data collection and reporting standards for both the courts and law enforcement, such…
When David Hall was eight-years-old, he was placed into the foster care system. He had suffered from abuse at the hands of his mother and was luckily removed from the situation. During his tenure in foster care, Hall never felt he had an advocate. Now, as an adult, he hopes to change that. He didn’t realize until years later that the…
Successful information sharing in law enforcement depends on what information is available. Different roles in law enforcement need various pieces of information related to crime. How and when that information is shared is vital to solving crimes and gathering crime rate statistics. Many police departments are changing the way they manage and share data outside their agency and with other…
An estimated 50 million homes in the United States contain a smart device such as the Amazon Echo or Google Home. Smart devices are only supposed to record the user’s command and the speaker’s response. Once a request is fulfilled, the “listening” stops. Amazon and Google have not publicly disclosed the exact length of time a device continues recording and…
For the past 40 years, the science of neurolaw has been more prevalent in court rooms. Neurolaw is using neuroscience such as MRI and fMRI to look at the brain. When it comes to the courtroom, neuroscience is used to diagnose mental health disorders when it comes to criminal defense and prosecution. One of the first instances of this type…
The new generation of 911 systems incorporate expanded technology to better get help in an emergency. According to the CDC National Center for Health Statistics, 137 million adults in the United States live in homes only with mobile phones. 48 million children also live in homes with only mobile phones without access to a landline phone. As technology and the…
