by
Imed Bouchrika, Phd
Law enforcement software improves policing practices and builds community trust. It automates report writing, investigations, and record management while reducing human error and improving public security and safety. Many law enforcement agencies implement these solutions to increase efficiency and improve outcomes, which is important given the increased public attention to police tactics.
This guide presents trends in law enforcement, why you ought to consider the best law enforcement software, and some examples with listed features to help you make informed decisions.
The year 2022 will bring more technological innovation and new challenges. The trends highlighted in this section can underpin agencies’ decisions on when and where they can leverage tools and software.
In 2022, United States community-policing initiatives will expand. The Department of Justice announced over $139 million in grant funding for this initiative, through which federal, state, and local agencies have prioritized reorienting their policing models to meet community needs. New programs will build trust between law enforcement and disenfranchised communities in rural areas, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
In 2020, there were 398.5 violent crimes per 100,000 Americans. Total property crime was 1,958.2 per 100,000 people. (Statista, 2021e) However, access to such statistics has been challenging. As such, future law enforcement transparency initiatives are likely. These go hand-in-hand with community-oriented policing. An agency may make crime rate statistics easily accessible or release high-profile or sensitive bodycam footage before FOIA requests or media pressure.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation
More of this is expected in 2022 with the Justice Department’s proposed 2022 budget. Anti-bias initiatives were proposed for $42 million this year. (Handler, 2021) These programs will expand everywhere in different ways.
2022 will bring another graduating class, and efforts are directed toward diversifying recruitment. In New York State alone, 87% of troopers are white, and fewer than 12% are females. (Voorhees, 2021) As such, agencies and cop schools are gearing up to recruit with diversity in mind.
The force is looking into recruiting individuals with degrees in accounting, teaching, social work, and all different backgrounds. (Voorhees, 2021) This year will bring new law enforcement roles. More officers have technical skills and the ability to leverage smart technologies, which help cities reduce crime by 30% to 40% and response times for emergencies by 20% to 35%. (Deloitte, 2021) Meanwhile, data analytics tools are becoming more affordable and available so that smaller municipalities can hire people for these roles.
Biometric access controls will be expanded next year. This growth is in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, as a recent survey revealed that 48% of the respondents agreed that new technological solutions are needed to manage future pandemics. On top of that, digital identity had the most significant development in the biometrics industry last year, along with border control and security and national identity. (Biometric Institute, 2021) It makes sense for law enforcement to leverage this technology.
Source: Biometric Institute
More than half of the polled professionals in 2021 agreed that biometrics would play a key role in enabling digital identities. A similar percentage agreed that identity verification systems and technologies would continue to grow. (Biometric Institute, 2021) In response, criminal investigations will use biometric records more often. The FBI recently introduced NGI, which it considers as the world’s largest and most efficient electronic repository of biometric and criminal history information. Suspect NGI and other systems will speed up suspect identification and background checks. (FBI, 2021)
Source; Biometrics Insitute Industry Survey 2021
Artificial intelligence is heavily used for service operations and product and service development in high tech and telecom, according to 39% and 37% of respondents, respectively. (McKinsey; Stanford University, 2021) Law enforcement is also gearing up to leverage it further. Several international bodies, including the United Nations, evaluate future law enforcement AI applications and discuss their tactical, legal, and ethical implications. The NIJ supports AI research projects in public safety video and image analysis, DNA analysis, gunshot detection, and crime forecasting. (Redden et al., 2020)
Modern police technology generates a lot of data, too much for human analysts to crunch alone. Data volumes are expected to grow to 180 zettabytes by 2025. (Statista, 2021b) Thus, more AI analytics tools will replace overworked human analysts. Natural language processing (NLP), for instance, can help 911 call centers triage high-volume calls. Some precincts can translate foreign language calls to English and back to the caller’s native language.
Every year, pundits tout new law enforcement equipment as the next big thing, but few devices last. Nevertheless, the use of drones is becoming widespread from use in sensing and imaging for environment monitoring to maintaining public safety with law enforcement use. In public administration alone, 32% of drones were used for localization or detection in 2021, while 28% were used for mapping and surveying. (Droneii, 2022) Law enforcement drones are expected to survive in 2022.
Source: Droneii
While 318,000 of the drones registered in the U.S. are commercial drones (FAA, 2021), the police have been increasingly using drones for crime scene work, search and rescue, accident reconstruction, crowd monitoring, and more. Some models are equipped with thermal imaging or 3D mapping software for GPS-enhanced precision. Many police drones are equipped with zoom cameras, making them invaluable in high-risk, “armed and dangerous” situations.
As more cities and communities equip police departments with body-worn cameras, supervisors and the public can get a street-level view of on-duty police work. More bodycams are expected to be produced and used in the coming years, with the market growing to reach $1.5 billion by 2025. (Market Research Future, 2022)
Source; Statista
According to the latest data from the National Institute of Justice, nearly a third of the agencies that acquired body-worn cameras in 2018 were local police departments. Nearly half were sheriffs’ offices. Expect that this year, with the release of next-generation body cameras, agencies will upgrade, and more agencies will also use this technology. Some models now have touchscreens and live playback controls to help officers review civilian videos and interactions. Other new cameras can be mounted on tripods for added surveillance when needed.
Meanwhile, the global law enforcement software market is growing and is expected to reach $22.1 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 9.8%. Post-COVID-19, the law enforcement software market will grow as more agencies migrate their IT infrastructure to the cloud, boost departmental operations, and improve processes. While APAC technology spending has increased, the COVID-19 pandemic is imminent. (Research and Markets, 2022)
Both public safety groups and their communities gain from law enforcement software through the following.
Depending on the goals and demands of an organization, the best law enforcement software may incorporate a range of functionalities, including evidence management, incident mapping, investigation management, case management, and dispatch management.
Adashi First Response helps agency staff respond to and manage critical incidents. It is designed for public safety, giving first responders adaptable technology for any incident. It brings ease and efficiency to daily workflows from the moment responders start their shift until a commander manages an incident.
Presynct OnDemand lets police departments and security companies log activities, create reports, track incidents, and analyze data. It allows users to log and review security incidents using a form, while the NoteM8 mobile app lets users log reports with photos, videos, and voice recordings.
Kaseware Law Enforcement provides innovative, optimized, and efficient law enforcement intelligence. Its case management and analytics platform help improve organization, mobility, and safety. This all-in-one investigation software is ideal for investigations and other cases.
LEFTA SHIELD Suite is a one-stop solution for internal documentation. Ten apps for one price, one login, and one profile. Leverage an early warning system and statistics and learn how it can protect your agency from liability. It includes law enforcement software for mission-critical processes.
Omnigo manages safety, incidents, and security and is ideal for police, schools, and hospitals. It aids in investigations, reporting, CAD, and more and is available on-premise or cloud-based. Its incident management tools include detection, response, reporting, remediation tracking, and prevention. So, you can generate intelligence reports based on policies.
Magnet AXIOM is purpose-built to recover, process, and analyze digital evidence from various sources. Recover deleted data and investigate digital evidence from computer, mobile, cloud, and vehicle sources in one case file.
Matrix Suite streamlines justice community information to automate smart workflow and quick legal processes while reducing office errors and waste. The Matrix Suite of applications and web solutions automates police case submission, prosecutor case processing, defense attorney discovery, and court filing.
LexisNexis Accurint Virtual Crime Center is a criminal investigation and analysis software that gives law enforcers actionable intelligence to drive informed decisions. It allows users to analyze crimes and respond fast and efficiently.
SAFE helps law firms and police departments streamline evidence management, data visualization, and barcode scanning. It has an API for integrating with third-party apps. Users can retrieve database information and build customizable widgets, set case follow-up dates, view or edit legal records, and track hardware across locations. The mobile apps for Android and iOS allow for remote case tracking and evidence upload.
Virtual Case Management (VCM) is a legal management platform for private investigators, law firms, claims adjustors, and corporations. It lets professionals access case information, assign tasks, and receive appointment reminders. It offers managers details in a centralized database.
WebEOC helps local, state, and federal agencies prepare emergency plans and promote situational awareness. It includes a resource request module to deploy and track personnel, equipment, and documentation in compliance with NIMS regulations.
digiTICKET allows officers to create and submit tickets electronically with no need to spend time on the roadside, thus increasing officer, violator, and community safety. It eliminates illegible handwriting and error-prone data entry, transferring ticket data to court and records management systems.
eFORCE is dedicated to making the community feel safer using a robust suite of browser-based law enforcement and mobile police software. It offers CAD, RMS, Mobile, Jail, Court, and Civil browser-based products. The software is ideal for sheriffs, police, dispatch centers, campus police, ISDs, jailers, and court officials.
Rave 911 Suite provides 911 teams, first responders, and emergency managers with the capabilities of handling, dispatching, and responding to emergencies efficiently and effectively. It includes Smart911, georeferenced floor plans, and text-from-911 features.
Spillman Records Management allows an agency to have a centralized, single-source database for insights and the gathering of accurate data. The software empowers users with the most accurate and up-to-date information through its record management system.
Rhodium Incident Management Suite provides a complete command and control solution. Rhodium is intuitive and scalable for daily incidents to multi-agency responses. It is ideal for law enforcement, fire departments, EMS, and emergency management.
Pipl is an identity management software that helps investigators and fraud analysts access current and historical information on individuals. Law enforcement, cybercrime, and insurance fraud management professionals can find email aliases, social media handles, phone numbers, education details, and job information.
OperationsCommander manages parking and security with one database. OPS-COM offers a user-managed portal and an administrative interface to customize the system. It manages parking permits, validation, and enforcement. OPS-COM offers in-field vehicle validation and traffic control with remote handhelds and LPR cameras.
Valor IMS is an incident management system that provides computer-aided dispatch, mobile data modules, and records management in a unique cross-platform environment. It provides CAD, RMS, mobile, and citizen reporting applications that can work independently.
SmartDraw is a diagram and chart tool that helps agencies manage diagramming processes with predefined templates. Document retention, customization, team collaboration, and single sign-on are key features (SSO).
Law enforcement software prioritizes data security in this age when the Internet of Things thrives. Cloud-based systems are more secure. Cloud solutions streamline evidence collection and simplify case management. Meanwhile, AI improves police work as it is used for facial recognition and image or video search. It spots patterns and outliers. Altogether, the best law enforcement software ensures that the police force can efficiently and effectively perform their duties while citizens rest assured of their safety and security.
Along with the best citizen request software tools, law enforcement software are solutions in the right direction for governments to connect, engage, and meet the ever-growing demands of their citizens for timely services.
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by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
by Imed Bouchrika, Phd
