DECADE OF EXPERIENCE SINCE THE CRIME COMMISSION CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (FROM POLICE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY, 1978, BY KENT W COLTON - SEE NCJ-51065)

• NCJ Number: 51079
• Author(s): K W COLTON
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 9 pages
• Corporate Author: Lexington Books
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE EVOLUTION OF COMPUTER USE IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS FROM 1967 TO 1977 IS BRIEFLY SUMMARIZED. BOTH ROUTINE AND NONROUTINE APPLICATIONS ARE REVIEWED IN LIGHT OF THE 1967 CRIME COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTUAL EXPERIENCE.

Abstract

THE DECADE UNDER STUDY SAW MANY FALSE STARTS AND LESS THAN SATISFACTORY ATTEMPTS TO IMPLEMENT COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY IN POLICE DEPARTMENTS. THIS IS ATTRIBUTED TO OVERSIMPLIFICATION OF POLICE PROBLEMS AND UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FOR THE NEW TECHNOLOGY. COMPUTERIZATION CAN BRING GREAT BENEFITS IN THE FORM OF RAPID COMMUNICATION, MORE ACCURATE AND COMPLETE INFORMATION, AND DATA FOR MORE RATIONAL DECISIONMAKING. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT COMPUTERS BE VIEWED IN A REALISTIC LIGHT AND APPLICATIONS DESIGNED WITH THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES IN MIND. AN APPENDIX PRESENTS A SUMMARY OF ISSUE AREAS AND RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERING THE USE OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY BY THE POLICE. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (GLR)