NCJ Number
168884
Journal
ABA Journal Volume: 82 Dated: (August 1996) Pages: 32
Date Published
1996
Length
1 page
Annotation
Several U.S. companies are using Federal funds to expand technology, originally developed for military use, that will detect guns hidden beneath clothing, and critics are concerned that the widespread use of such technology may infringe on privacy rights.
Abstract
One lawyer in particular, a past president of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, questions the use of military technology in domestic crime fighting. According to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), however, civil liberty issues are being considered in technology development. Research began in 1995 when the NIJ awarded $2.15 million to Raytheon, Millitech Corporation, and the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL) for the independent development of weapon scanners for use in courts, airports, shopping malls, schools, and banks and on the streets. A scanning device produced by INEL was featured at a law enforcement conference in Los Angeles in April 1996. More controversial is the gun detection technology being developed by Millitech Corporation to produce a hand-held, battery-powered device small enough to be carried by police officers in their cars. The concern is that police officers will use the portable gun-detecting devices in sort of "moving electronic dragnet" and potentially violate individual privacy rights. One of the key issues is whether using a detector to search for guns on a person is more intrusive than a search of luggage. The NIJ believes the key issue is safety and indicates the detectors are intended for use only in places such as airports, courts, and prisons or to search suspects who may be frisked under Terry standards. 1 photograph