Justice and Public Safety

California Getting New Registry for Protective Orders

November 7, 2011 - An electronic database of protective and restraining orders gives judges and law enforcement another tool to keep Californians safer.

Nationwide Test of Emergency Alert System to Become a Reality

November 4, 2011 - First-ever test will transmit a federal message through designated broadcast systems on Nov. 9.

2011 Digital Cities Survey Winners Announced

November 2, 2011 - The 11th annual survey spotlights the municipalities that best show how information and communication technology are used to enhance public service.

Does Privatizing Traffic Cameras Hurt Public Safety?

October 27, 2011 - Study finds some red-light camera system contracts limit government’s ability to enforce traffic regulations.

Crash Reports Get Electronic Upgrade in Orlando

October 26, 2011 - New software helps Orlando police speed up crash report availability.

Coplink Data Sharing System Goes Mobile

October 24, 2011 - System used by 4,500 law enforcement agencies has been around since the 1990s.

New York School District Tests Video Surveillance on Demand

October 24, 2011 - Port Washington public school district tests cameras with eyelids for privacy and security.

MIT Researchers' New Radar Technology Sees Through Walls

October 21, 2011 - The device can detect what’s going on behind 8-inch concrete.

Facial Recognition Technology Spurs Privacy Concerns for Feds

October 21, 2011 - Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va., asked the Federal Trade Commission for a report on the security impacts of facial recognition technology.

Cook County, Ill., Tries E-Ticketing for Traffic Violations

October 18, 2011 - E-ticketing system pilot will reduce paper costs and process traffic tickets faster, officials say.

‘Anonymous’ Wants to Hack U.S. Industrial Control Systems, DHS Says

October 18, 2011 - The Department of Homeland Security believes the hacker group wants to target the networked infrastructure of private industry.

‘Robot Rodeo’ Prepares Oklahoma Law Enforcement for Bomb Incidents

October 17, 2011 - Law enforcement agencies in Oklahoma use event to troubleshoot and improve robots used by bomb squads.

Mobile App Improving Officer Safety & Connectivity in the Wilderness

October 14, 2011 - Identifications, license plates, even airplane N-numbers can all be checked almost instantly.

Gotcha! MIS Helps Police Catch 911 Prank Caller

October 13, 2011 - 911 operators more easily identify calling patterns with assistance from automated data collection.

Charlotte. N.C., to Deploy Next-Gen Public Safety Network

October 12, 2011 - The Charlotte, N.C., City Council has approved a contract to deploy a 4G long term evolution (LTE) network in the 700 MHz spectrum for public safety communication.

California Approves Law Blocking Cell Phone Transmissions in Prisons

October 7, 2011 - A new law that authorizes the use of “managed access technology” to block wireless transmissions in California prisons is now on the books in California.

S.F. Bay Area Transit Cops Testing Clip-On Cameras

October 3, 2011 - Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) police are beta testing clip-on video cameras that officials hope will increase transparency, accountability and ultimately protect officers from false complaints.

Can Smartphones Help Stop Illegal Fishing in California?

September 30, 2011 - The California Department of Fish and Game takes a mobile website listing marine protected areas to the high seas.

Video Visitation Bus Connects Jail Inmates to Families

September 30, 2011 - To help inmates communicate with loved ones, the Pinellas County, Fla., Sheriffs Offices high-tech bus allows the public to video conference with the incarcerated without visiting the county jail.

RoboCop Revisited: How Automation Is Transforming Public Safety

September 30, 2011 - From mobile robots to laser scanners, technology is making police officers safer and more effective.