Justice and Public Safety

Senate to Reconsider Warrantless Cell Phone Searches

November 26, 2012 - A Senate committee will consider limited changes to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, which could alter how courts interpret the use of cell phone data.

Mississippi Cops Share Data to Fight Crime

November 19, 2012 - Police officers in Harrison County, Miss., use mobile tools to make routine traffic stops safer and more efficient.

Investigators Say Los Angeles Fire Data Severely Flawed

November 19, 2012 - After a glitch was revealed in the Los Angeles Fire Department's computer systems, a task force found the problems went much deeper.

NY Public Safety Systems Remained at 100% During Sandy

November 15, 2012 - While many commercial cell towers went down during Hurricane Sandy, police and fire systems stayed at full operation.

Gunshot Detection with Facial Recognition Instantly IDs Shooters

November 9, 2012 - A shooter’s image is checked against a biometric database to determine identity, and if one isn't found, the software creates a new record.

National SMS System Successful During Superstorm Sandy

November 8, 2012 - Though the Commercial Mobile Alert System fared well during superstorm Sandy, public awareness about the system must still be addressed.

Massachusetts State Police May Test Rubber Ball Camera

November 8, 2012 - A customizable camera ball that can instantly transmit 360-degree images to a smartphone may help emergency responders assess a situation's safety from afar.

Baltimore Fire Fleet Can No Longer Tweet

November 7, 2012 - A new social media policy restricting what Baltimore firefighters are allowed to post online has drawn the ire of union representatives and First Amendment activists.

Smart911 Heightens First Responder Situational Awareness

November 6, 2012 - Emergency response personnel can use data entered into Smart911 to make better decisions and improve response time.

Tattoo Recognition Database Could Help Combat Crime and Terrorism

November 6, 2012 - Michigan State University develops biometric tattoo recognition technology to match tattoo images with ones in an existing database.

Does Citizen Journalism Foster or Impede Law Enforcement?

November 5, 2012 - The tendency for citizens to record everything on their smartphones can lead to conflicts between police and the people they are sworn to protect and serve.

More Traffic Cameras Planned for Prince George’s County, Md.

November 5, 2012 - The success of portable speed cameras in Prince George’s County, Md., is driving further public safety technology expansion.

Behavioral Data and the Future of Predictive Policing

November 2, 2012 - In the future, behavioral data and clues from virtual interactions may help cops stop bad guys before they've even drawn up a plan -- like the 2002 blockbuster Minority Report.

Cameras Are Stars of Toledo PD's ORION Project

November 2, 2012 - Toledo Police installed 40 new surveillance cameras around the city as part of an intelligence-led policing initiative.

Judge OKs Police Cameras With No Warrant

October 31, 2012 - Cameras placed by police without a warrant were found not to violate the Fourth Amendment rights of two suspected marijuana farmers.

Interpreters Virtually Visit Florida Courtrooms

October 30, 2012 - Two-way video-conferencing technology connects remote interpreters to hearings at Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit Court.

NYC Takes to Twitter During Hurricane Sandy

October 30, 2012 - Over the last five days, the city has tweeted and retweeted information about evacuations, road and bridge closures, and shelters to keep citizens informed and safe.

Smart Cameras Predict Human Behavior

October 29, 2012 - Carnegie Mellon University researchers are developing a cognitive software engine that could someday replace humans monitoring video footage.

Chicago Deploys Gun Shot Detection Technology

October 26, 2012 - Windy City officials give the go-ahead for gun shot detection system installation in three neighborhoods around the city.

DHS Deploys Data-Rich Emergency Maps

October 26, 2012 - Dynamic, data-rich maps drawn from a wide variety of disparate sources are the Department of Homeland Security's newest tool in the urban emergency preparedness arsenal.