Justice and Public Safety

Connecticut lawmakers, both Democrats and Republicans, advanced a bill that would require parental consent in order for any person under the age of 16 to use social media like Facebook or Twitter.

The Pittsburgh Task Force on Public Algorithms has released recommendations for county and municipal governments that are interested in using automated systems for better decision-making.

Baltimore Police Department will use a new crime reporting system, joining law enforcement agencies across the country that have taken the same step, all of it as part of a change required by the federal government.

As part of a new initiative to crack down on gun violence in the city, Mayor Eric Adams has reinstated the NYPD’s anti-crime unit. Officers are now equipped with new training and technology to maintain accountability.

The Oakland Police Department will launch a new drone program to aid missing person investigations and de-escalate conflicts. However, the move is raising eyebrows among privacy advocates, who see the tech as invasive.

Cleveland County commissioners recently approved a $36,000 annual contract that will provide updated devices that monitor county jail detainees' heart rate variabilities and motions.

Fresh off a funding round, the tech provider is helping the department bring its policy revision and compliance work into the cloud. The move reflects a larger push toward unified platforms for local government.

2021 was a banner year for bills on some big topics, including bans on discriminatory tech, protecting biometric data, regulating facial recognition technology and the use of drones. Here is a look at where they are now.

The Jeffersonville, Ind., City Council recently approved the city's police department to purchase the Flock Safety System for $75,000. The automated license plate readers will be used in criminal investigations.

The West Chester Township trustees recently approved more than $27,000 for the purchase of new drone technology, training and software. The move follows county law enforcement, which has used the tech since 2016.

At a news conference this week, Mayor Jerry Dyer announced that the city had lost more than $600,000 to online scammers who were targeting municipalities nationwide. An American suspect has been identified by the FBI.

Some residents living in Anne Arundel County are experiencing long wait times while calling 911. One possible fix is a consolidated call center that would allow police, fire and medical operators to work together.

The company will become the main payment processor for JusticeONE, formerly known as Courtware, which has a presence in more than 300 courts. The company will also license some of Judicial Innovations’ products.

A defense lawyer in Florida has filed a motion asking a judge to have jurors use virtual reality goggles that would give them a simulated look at an alleged crime from the perspective of the defendant.

State transportation departments are increasingly using road-based sensor technology to alert drivers of closures, detect crashes and notify emergency responders, and curb fatal truck accidents.

Specialty docket clients in some Ohio courts will begin using the Anchored To Hope platform, which includes machine intelligence and VR meditation to combat addiction through 24/7 access to resources.

A bill recently passed by the Colorado House of Representatives would allow consumers and businesses to use digital license plates. The legislation is heading to the Colorado Senate.

The school board of Pittsburgh Public Schools will decide this month whether an artificial intelligence system will be deployed to fine and discourage people for illegally passing stopped school buses.