Justice and Public Safety

The combination of data and maps is useful for a lot more than just helping you get from point A to point B. Think natural disasters, global supply chains and climate change.

Arizona launched statewide sexual assault evidence kit tracking software in 2019. But Phoenix, the largest city in the state, has opted out of using it. The agency now faces a new sexual assault evidence backlog.

The city’s finance committee recently recommended a $6.2 million contract that would cover the Aurora Police Department's body-worn cameras, Tasers and accompanying software through 2028.

For campus safety, Philadelphia School District is installing metal detectors, launching surveillance drones, buying a video-management system for its cameras, and enhancing police presence and community patrols.

A newly formed team within North Dakota Information Technology is taking an in-depth look at emergency communications across the state with a focus on interoperability, security and resilience.

The NYPD plans to start piloting drones over certain crime scenes across the five boroughs, in some cases pairing the technology with the department's ongoing ShotSpotter technology.

As a majority of states have moved to adopt sexual assault evidence tracking technology, some are fumbling launch deadlines and others have yet to make any significant progress to upgrade antiquated processes.

Speed camera violations dropped 30 percent citywide in the past 12 months, the first year in which the law allowed the cameras to issue automated tickets 24/7. Traffic fatalities also dropped, according to DOT data.

A surveillance tool shares local data with out-of-state agencies — a practice among many law enforcement departments and one that some lawyers, privacy advocates and legislators say is illegal.

Under a deal with the Minnesota Department of Human Services, approved by the St. Paul City Council in June, police officers have around-the-clock access to a controversial smartphone-hacking device called GrayKey.

Early warning capabilities are part of a new AI pilot project operated by Cal Fire in partnership with UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia system, which maintains 1,039 high-definition cameras in strategic locations throughout the state.

The San Rafael City Council has thrown its support behind a plan to add license plate reading cameras in response to an uptick in crime with a $118,200 contract that calls for 19 license plate readers.

An ongoing education equity deals with a policy whereby researchers, in order to gain access to private education data, must agree not to release information from the data or testify about it without advance permission.

The Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors this week authorized a sheriff’s department grant application for $50,000, which will be used to purchase and install a software program for tracking criminal and gang activity data.

So far this year state and federal officials have had to ground their aircraft at least seven times due to unauthorized drone flights near active wildfires, according to state officials.

The Irvine City Council has started to take inventory of the city’s public security cameras as the first part of its preliminary planning for more security cameras to be added in additional public spaces.

Lexington police say their newest technological investigative tool will not intrude on citizen privacy despite the system making use of security cameras that are owned by businesses and residents.

The drone, estimated to cost around $30,000, was bought with a Federal Homeland Security grant. The Kalispell Fire Department was one of six hazardous material response agencies to receive the aircraft and specialized training.