Justice and Public Safety

A youth advocacy group for safer online practices is pushing for tougher restrictions on social media after a House committee last week approved a watered-down version of a kids’ online safety measure.

Instagram offers a new kind of account with privacy defaults and more restrictions for users under 18. Some parents and student groups are encouraged, but also skeptical the changes will be sufficient.

A fatal traffic collision in Mobile has revived a long-running conversation about red-light cameras, but city and state officials have often disagreed about their accuracy and effectiveness.

In response to a pair of gun scares in the first weeks of school, a school board in Philadelphia is considering purchasing a scanning system that uses artificial intelligence to identify possible weapons.

A ransomware attack that crippled the city of Wichita's network for more than a month starting in May was limited to a Wichita Police Department records system, city officials said Wednesday.

The Windy City’s contract for the gun detection service will expire shortly, but two aldermen have launched attempts to extend it. A parliamentary move or a special vote could potentially compel an extension.

The company said in a blog post that it is teaming up with a satellite maker and a group of nonprofits to launch satellites next year that can pinpoint small blazes all over the world before they spread.

Over the past decade, fears around school shootings have driven a push for surveillance cameras, panic buttons, emergency alert systems and other technology, in some cases forcing hard choices for tight budgets.

City and county police agencies across Maryland are moving to encrypted radio systems to protect witness and victim privacy, as well as officer safety. But some say the switch affects community trust.

Law enforcement agencies nationwide are losing officers faster than they can recruit them. Automated license plate readers and using drones as first responders are just two solutions that can act as "force multipliers."

The city has deployed 15 Flock Safety cameras to photograph vehicle license plates and alert on those being sought. The system, officials have said, is not used for immigration enforcement, and use is closely scrutinized.

ShotSpotter’s days in Chicago are numbered, but some aldermen are trying — once again — to throw the gunshot detection system a last-minute lifeline as its time ticks down.

The work to install new video monitors, microphones, cameras and other equipment began a few months ago with the first courtrooms getting the makeover being those that handle criminal cases.

Sheriff’s deputies’ vehicles will soon be able to scan license plates and check drivers’ criminal records, in an expansion of the technology. Funding is coming via a grant from the federal Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs.

The Portland City Council voted to expand a police drone program, enabling its use for all precincts and divisions despite pushback from some community members over surveillance concerns.

The latest Children’s Interactive Cybersecurity Activity Kit by the security training company KnowBe4 uses games, videos and printable material to show kids how to protect themselves from common cyber crimes.

Years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people in Deschutes County still choose to attend court dates remotely. The county moved to electronic filing in 2015, with video technology emerging around the same time.

Local law enforcement officials credited Centegix ID badges with helping them respond quickly to a shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia this week, and giving each classroom a warning to lock down.