NCJ Number
185818
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 27 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2000 Pages: 16-22
Date Published
November 2000
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Police investigators can rapidly conduct online searches to gather information over the Internet if they know where to look.
Abstract
Using public search engines can be a good way to conduct general research, although queries through these techniques are often hit-or-miss approaches and the quality of a website can be misleading. Therefore, investigators should verify any information that comes off the Internet. Some pay websites and services serve the intelligence community, including law enforcement. ChoicePoint is one of the largest and recently merged with DBT Online. Discovery Plus, AutoTrack XP, and LEXIS-NEXIS are others. Sites dedicated to law enforcement can be better than pay sites, because they often offer information that law enforcement can use immediately. The Middle Atlantic Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network (MAGLOCLEN) is one such site; police agencies must apply for membership and meet certain criteria to join this service. MAGLOCLEN is part of a larger organization, the federally funded Regional Information Sharing System (RISS) that was established in 1980 and has six centers throughout the country. Over 5,000 member police agencies are part of RISS. Additional sites offer places to communicate with each other or the public. A nationwide database might also be useful if agencies ensure that the information is accurate and up to date. Illustrations