COURSE DESCRIPTION

Presents, describes and discusses the present state of technology in the criminal justice community (law enforcement, courts, and corrections). Defines and reviews technology in development of the criminal justice system. Examines the process of the technology development cycle for the criminal justice community including setting requirements, research and development, manufacturing, acquisition and field applications. Examines and discusses the role of technology in the current criminal justice community including technology impact, legal considerations, and future directions for criminal justice technology.  Lecture 3 hours per week.

GENERAL COURSE PURPOSE

To teach the criminal justice student the role, direction and impact of present and future technology in the criminal justice system.

ENTRY LEVEL COMPETENCIES

None

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

A. understand the current state of technology in the criminal justice system and how it is applied to the challenges of law enforcement, courts, and corrections activities

B. understand the technology development process with examples from current technology development activities: smart gun, sticky foam, barrier strips, restraints, data communications, less than lethal weapons, personnel locators, and integrated records systems

C. understand how the technology development cycle interrelates to requirements, research and development, manufacturing, acquisition and field application element

D. understand the role of technology in the future criminal justice system including issues of cost/value, liability and privacy

A. Today's technology

1. Dodge City to New York City
2. Overview of current technology areas: information systems, protective systems, weapons, transportation
3. Application of technology in current criminal justice system

B. Technology development process

1. Establishing requirements
2. Research and development in today's criminal justice system: sticky foam, smart guns, weapons detectors, barrier strips, 3. personnel locators, fingerprint wand, integrated records systems
4. Technology transfer, federal role, academic role, laboratory role, manufacturer's role
5. Manufacturing and the criminal justice marketplace issues: success examples:

a. fingerprint wand
b. body armor
c. DNA
d. IAFIS

6. Role of coordination in development process
7.Acquisition process including RFPs, budgeting strategies, and creative funding applications

C. The role for technology
 
1. Value of technology; safety for criminal justice system individuals, improved processes, improved results, law enforcement, courts and corrections
2. Less than lethal technology for law enforcement and corrections
3. Impact of liability and privacy issues
4. The changing criminal justice community and technology's impact
5. The future of criminal justice technology
6. Look 5-10 years out at what is coming: integrated information systems, less than lethal force applications, multi capable sensor systems, community corrections options, expanded community involvement
7. Changing tools sets for individuals in the criminal justice system community
8. Criminal justice information systems, bulletin boards and the Internet