Opinion

Philadelphia is using data-matching to cut down on the number of forms that assistance program applicants have to fill out. The innovative work focuses on the end users, not the bureaucracy.

Dallas County does not have a comprehensive, centralized, publicly available data source for its courts, making it harder to run down basic information about everything from law enforcement to evictions.

While COVID-19 has made continuity of public services more critical than ever, it has also made them more vulnerable. A few guidelines can help organizations prepare for and prevent ransomware incidents.

Unexpected situations can bring unforeseen questions, especially when tensions and stakes are high. But a little preparation goes a long way. Here are three tips for navigating difficult questions, no matter their source.

The pandemic has transformed many online services from “nice-to-have” to “need-to-have.” Public-sector IT leaders are central to reimagining government, and they continue to find new ways to deliver for citizens.

As the demands of remote government work extend from weeks to months, public-sector agencies must begin exploring tools like augmented and virtual reality for improved communication and collaboration.

Even the best efforts of three big providers can’t stop the technology’s spread or misuse. Licensing agreements might allow police departments to use parts of it even if they can’t use specific algorithms.

COVID-19 has forced government agencies to ask a lot of their citizens as businesses close and schools go online. In return, the public sector should take bold steps to move forward with a startup-like innovation mindset.

Isolation is known to cause negative psychological and social effects, and the COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated that large-scale isolation creates an entirely new tier of issues in the digital age.

Federal funding for broadband intended to expand telehealth will go a long way toward getting more people the care they need, but communities must create strategies tailored to their needs to make the most of it.

The Orlando Sentinel newspaper editorial board calls for a law that would include real consequences for officers who don’t activate their cameras, or who deliberately turn them off to avoid scrutiny.

State and local agencies face a host of challenges as they prepare to restart business. With the help of tech, knowing how to plan for short- and long-term needs, post pandemic, can make the difference.

Meeting the changing needs of citizens through continued disruption will mean states and localities must embrace modern technology and adapting civil service rules to accommodate remote and digital talent.

Transitioning away from paper documents will not only help local governments during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, when resources and staff may be reduced, but will also make services more accessible in the future.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, state-supported groups and cybercriminals may target networks, websites and social media streams to disrupt information flow, deceive the public and interfere with legitimate government functions.

A public charter school in Maryland has been practicing blended learning for years. What they have learned could serve as a model for K-12 public schools as they shift to distance learning during the pandemic.

Using a collaborative, fast-paced development process, the city’s public works created a way for residents to open up neighborhood streets for safe and healthy exercising while maintaining social distancing.

Some privacy and security experts have expressed cautious optimism that new private-sector efforts could be potentially useful tools to aid public health contact tracers while protecting privacy.