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Technology has impacted the communication capabilities of specialized databases in the criminal justice system in a substantial manner. The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IFS) and Live Scan are two specialized databases to which have their benefits and hindrances in the criminal Justice system. Furthermore, there are new technologies that can be used to enhance the criminal Justice system’s ability to uphold the.
The National Institute of Justice (NJ) is responsible for carrying out programs that “by providing equipment, training and technical assistance, improve he safety and effectiveness of criminal Justice technology as well as access to that technology by local, state, tribal and federal enforcement agencies,” Justice, 2009). The NIX focuses on five primary objectives: * Protecting the public * Ensuring Officer Safety * Confirming the Guilty and Protecting the Innocent * Improving the Efficiency of Justice * Enabling Informed Decision Making These guidelines serve as a benchmark to which their programs are measured against.
In creating these programs, the NIX uses a comprehensive process to make valid technology programs for the criminal Justice system. This process uses the research, development, testing, and evaluation approach to “ensure that the No’s research portfolios are aligned to the best technology needs of the criminal Justice community,” Justice, 2009). For example, the NIX formed a working group to study some of the disadvantages of the praised specialized database, the IFS.
The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IFS) is a specialized database that is designed to match known and unknown fingerprints with intentions on connecting a suspect to a pending crime or to an unsolved crime. The Integrated IFS has a aerographical structure that is perpetuated throughout the United States. The Integrated IFS is managed by the FBI and houses all fingerprints collected in the Technology and Communication in Criminal Justice By shanghaied 980 make the process of matching even faster.
Next, the state’s IFS system hosts a broader search consisting of all Basis in all cities in the state. Advantages linked to the IFS are speedy matching of fingerprints (being 48 hours) as opposed to the cumbersome technique of manual matching (up to 40 days). A primary disadvantage of Basis is the interoperability. The term IFS interoperability refers to the ability of different IFS systems to communicate efficiently and effectively with one another,” (Mayo, 2008).
This hurdle is due to factors that include political, interstate bureaucracy, physical network connectivity, consolidation, maintaining accuracy, and workload management (Mayo, 2008). Other technologies have found similar success in the criminal Justice system. “Live Scan is an inkwells electronic system designed to capture an individual’s fingerprint images and demographic data (name, sex, race, date of birth, etc. In a digitized format that can be transmitted to the state central repository for processing,” (Police, 2010).
The Live Scan system can return results in a matter of minutes compared to hours with the traditional IFS. Electronic images are sent up the chain of systems via a virtual private network (VPN) which then does a final comparison at the integrated IFS level. Though Live Scan is very fast and accurate, the equipment used will be a pitfall for image integrity. It is recommended that a high-powered camera be used along with a backup digital camera in order to revert delays in Live Scan submission, according to the Virginia State Police Department (Virginia. Gob, 2008).
New technology that can aid law enforcement and the criminal Justice system could include the improved smart radio that law enforcement can utilize on a daily basis. The smart radios will detect traffic congestion on one frequency and will quickly switch to another. This is one application among many to the smart radio’s advantage over the traditional radio. The traditional radio is a more expensive model being composed of mostly analog parts. The smart radio takes advantage of the new age digital technology making it sees expensive and capable of being paralleled to that of a small computer.
This will allow multiple applications besides simple multi-channel communications. The disadvantage of such technology is that it will be only as smart as the software that drives it. (Technology, 2009) Couple with this new technology, IFS and Live Scan enhances the criminal Justice system’s ability to effective fight crime and protects the innocent. Though the drawbacks for their disadvantages may delay the Justice process, the advantages make their technological usages Justified in implementation.