Justice and Public Safety

The legislation would require state corrections to create a secure digital way to deliver legal mail. If approved, it would eliminate the last paper mail delivered to those incarcerated.

Individuals are receiving an increased number of these types of scam messages and phone calls, officials say, with scammers using fake browser pop-ups or unsolicited phone calls to trick victims.

Officials will use the money, from the Missouri 911 service board, to improve software and hardware redundancies, and to update GIS systems. The center serves two counties and area first responders.

The new Omnilert system at Oak Lawn High School District 229 can use artificial intelligence to identify a gun, then send the data to a human expert to verify before contacting first responders.

Travelers at the Harry Reid International Airport can use biometric data instead of placing their ID in a card reader and having a photo taken. Three airlines are using the system; passengers must be enrolled in TSA PreCheck.

In June 2024, the central Illinois community of Effingham entered a two-year contract with Flock Safety for a total of six traffic cameras for an annual cost of $18,000 and an initial setup fee of $7,500.

A recent incident involving the rocker and an undetected handgun in the Michigan state Capitol shows the need for better security. That need, in turn, could spark more business for suppliers of gov tech.

With a $643,000 investment, Phoenix is now utilizing Versaterm’s AI-driven CallTriage system to help residents, shorten wait times and keep lines clear for emergencies. It went live earlier this month.

The public safety tech provider has teamed with two other companies to help route non-emergency calls from motorists away from busy 911 call centers. The move reflects larger trends in public safety tech.

The township will spend $399,000 in a three-year contract with Flock Safety, enabling police to field three of the company’s Aerodome drones. They will only be used to record live events in public places.

The origins of the agreement with technology and services firm CGI stretch back to 2012, when the state was recovering from Hurricane Sandy. CGI has helped it distribute and track more than $7 billion in assistance.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed three bills aimed at preventing sexual harassment by making it a crime to create and distribute generative AI images or videos that feature a specific person in sexual situations.

An Illinois audit found that a popular provider of license plate reading technology violated data protection law. In response, the company paused all federal pilot projects and outlined new distinct search permissions.

The city’s Real-Time Crime Center, a specialized unit of its police department, integrates tech including feeds from drones, body-worn camera footage and law enforcement data to increase investigative efficiency.

When different people working in the criminal justice system — from investigators to probation officers — can’t share data effectively or securely, there may be an ethical and financial price to pay.

The California Prison Industry Authority has wrapped part one of an enterprise resource management refresh. The new system lets incarcerated workers use software they might find upon re-entering the job market.

The department deployed multiple drones earlier this month to monitor crowds at an outdoor music concert. It was the devices’ first appearance since a city policy governing their use was finalized.

City police could soon deploy the cameras, but City Council members aired considerable concerns about the devices. Privacy and ethical usage were among the issues they raised, along with how data would be shared.