Justice and Public Safety

The chief justice of the Kentucky state Supreme Court told lawmakers Thursday that the rapid switch to remote hearings at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was beneficial in keeping the courts moving.

The San Diego County District Attorney's Office has unveiled an app dubbed the "Cultural Awareness Project," which gives police quick access to key cultural knowledge for use during non-emergency interactions.

The Metropolitan King County Council unanimously voted today to prohibit county departments, including the sheriff's office, from using facial recognition tech. If signed by the county executive, the measure becomes law.

Owensboro-Daviess County 911 dispatch is using new technology to allow callers to send photos and videos during an incident. The tool will help add situational awareness for first responders and could help solve crimes.

Plus, Dayton, Ohio, rolls out a police transparency portal for public info; Howard County, Md., announces a new robust digital equity initiative; and a Florida sheriff’s office deploys tech to find wandering seniors.

Springfield, Ill., police are looking to install about 80 of the cameras, which cost $2,500 per year, throughout the city to hopefully have “a positive impact on reduction of crime,” police officials have said.

An investigation revealed that more than 40 law enforcement agencies in Minnesota used facial recognition tech from Clearview AI. Experts have raised questions about the legality and reliability of this tech.

A legislative proposal sponsored by Rep. Grayson Lookner, D-Portland, would allow for the use of the digital technology in the investigation of only the most serious crimes, including rape and murder.

The Virginia Smart Community Testbed in Stafford County will test emerging technologies in real-world settings. The project is a partnership between the county and the Center for Innovative Technology.

In an effort to increase transparency about emerging tech in police work, a new Minnesota law requires law enforcement agencies to submit annual reports about how they utilize and how much they spend on drones.

Council members have approved spending $214,000 to purchase an Avigilon video surveillance system for 16 camera locations in downtown Moline, marking the first phase of a plan aimed at enhancing security in some areas.

New York City's transit system faces a financially uncertain future as it attempts to return ridership to pre-COVID levels during a wave of assaults that is discouraging people from using the subway.

The startup has made a name for itself with software that reminds defendants of court dates so they don't get hit with penalties for failing to appear. Now the company is expanding into more of the justice process.

As part of a recent ransomware attack on the police department of Washington, D.C., cyber criminals released sensitive information on about two dozen officers. Experts say hackers can be serious threats to public safety.

A man accused of stealing about $700,000 from the city of Fort Worth, Texas, through an online phishing email scam was sentenced by the courts on Wednesday to 12 years in prison after he pled guilty to the crime.

In the weeks before Colonial Pipeline said it was hit by a ransomware attack, the Alpharetta-based company was trying to fill two security leadership positions, one of which was manager of cybersecurity.

The Stillwater, Okla., Police Department is moving to buy body-worn cameras for its officers, which is something that the department and its officials have long said they could not afford to do.

The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office announced a new drone program to help with search and rescue cases. The devices are equipped with infrared cameras, which provide infrared radiation and night imaging.