Offender Monitoring:
On many jurisdictions throughout the country, the location of persons on probation, parole, or pretrial release can be monitored electronically, typically through home-based systems tied into a phone line. This technology helps minimize the use of court or police officers by permitting the monitoring agency to know when the subject wearing a monitoring device is at home or when he or she has left and returned.
Related technologies, however, can come into play when used for officer safety/location, especially in correctional facilities. These technologies allow an officer to transmit a call for help to a central location.where his or her location can be pinpointed and assistance can be dispatched.
Concealed Weapons and Contraband:
Contraband detection systems allow agencies and officers to detect and diffuse potential threats. Research and development efforts are under way on systems that detect a variety of contraband, from drugs to human beings to concealed weapons. Because concealed weapons—principally handguns and edged weapons—pose a potentially lethal threat to law enforcement and corrections personnel, a number of research projects are focused on their detection. Current detection systems include portal-type metal detectors (as encountered in airports and many office buildings) and metal-detecting wands. Despite limitations—e.g., limited range, high false-alarm rates, obtrusiveness—these devices have provided a certain margin of safety in areas such as prison visitor areas, government offices, courts, and schools.
Office of Justice Programs and the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. (2001). A resource guide to law enforcement, corrections, and forensic technologies (pp. 1-95) (United States, Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs and Office of Community Oriented Policing Services). Washington, DC: COPS: Community Oriented Policing Services.