Justice and Public Safety

The Case for Drones

March 1, 2013 - While anti-drone legislation is cropping up across the country, some experts feel their public safety potential, including in fire and rescue situations, is being overlooked.

Broadband Stimulus Hearing Turns Contentious

March 1, 2013 - The Feb. 27 hearing on Broadband Stimulus grants was marked with specific allegations of waste, fraud and abuse.

Illinois Department of Corrections Heads to the Cloud

February 28, 2013 - Agency aims to go live with the first part of its new cloud-based criminal justice information system in June.

Supreme Court Considers Link between DNA and Privacy Rights

February 27, 2013 - “Your purpose (for taking DNA from arrestees) is to find bad guys, and that’s good, but sometimes the Fourth Amendment gets in the way.”

FCC to Hold Hearing on Network Resilience and Reliability

February 26, 2013 - On Feb. 28, the FCC will hold its second National Field Hearing to examine challenges to the nation’s communications systems during natural disasters and other times of crisis.

Global Tweet-a-Thon to Connect Police Agencies

February 25, 2013 - A 24-hour Tweet-a-Thon next month invites police agencies to share tweets to help create awareness about their work.

Apple and NYPD Team Up to Thwart Phone Thieves

February 25, 2013 - The official police team that handles mobile phone theft in the city could help police identify organized phone theft and trafficking.

Police Use Pinterest to Combat Street Drug Proliferation

February 22, 2013 - Kansas City Police, early adopters of the photo-rich Pinterest platform, use the tool to educate parents about street drugs they may not recognize.

Could Google's Push for Digital Privacy Changes Affect Law Enforcement?

February 21, 2013 - Google is working to change the Electronic Communications Privacy Act to require that government investigators obtain a search warrant when requesting access to old emails and messages stored online.

Forensics Lab Goes Lean to Jump Start Productivity

February 21, 2013 - In New York, the Monroe County Crime Lab’s Forensic Biology section has streamlined its workflow and increased efficiency by using the Lean Six Sigma management philosophy.

Auto-Tweets Mimic Police Scanner

February 19, 2013 - Cambridge, Mass., police introduce a real-time crime notification system that sends out auto updates via Twitter.

NYC's Code Corps Enlists Volunteer Techies in Emergency and Disaster Recovery

February 15, 2013 - Launched in response to needs that arose from Hurricane Sandy’s impact on the city, Code Corps will likely develop new Web and mobile applications and emergency-related information maps using city data.

Will FirstNet Move Forward With Local Broadband Projects?

February 12, 2013 - Seven regional wireless networks could soon serve as models for a nationwide public safety broadband communications system.

Hackers Broadcast Zombie Emergency Alert on TV

February 12, 2013 - The bogus alert cautioned Montana TV viewers to “not attempt to approach or apprehend these bodies, as they are considered extremely dangerous.”

GIS-Assisted Disaster Relief in 2013 and Beyond

February 8, 2013 - A GIS expert from Esri talks about how the technology is fueling improved disaster response.

Philly PD to Share Crime Data Across Departments

February 6, 2013 - Location-based crime data that tracks crime patterns will be shared across Philadelphia law enforcement and fire departments using Esri software.

Virginia Releases Emergency Preparation Smartphone App

January 28, 2013 - A new mobile application from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management should enable citizens to better prepare for the unexpected.

Will California Create an Earthquake Early Warning System?

January 28, 2013 - State Sen. Alex Padilla announced legislation to create a statewide system to warn of impending earthquakes.

Third-Party App Enhances Campus Security

January 22, 2013 - Mobile options supplement physical security infrastructure at Toronto’s Ontario College of Art and Design.

FBI Website Targets Bank Robbers

January 21, 2013 - Bankrobbers.fbi.gov displays the perpetrator's photos and descriptive information, and the crime location.