Biometric Identification:
Biometric identification technologies use a particular biological aspect of the human body to recognize or confirm that person’s identity. These technologies can be applied in the criminal justice system to enhance access control and identity verification in correctional facilities, and as an investigative tool for identifying missing and exploited children as well as criminals captured by surveillance systems. Technologies in the research stage, under development, and in use in the field include facial recognition technologies and biometrically enhanced smart cards.
Information Sharing:
Significant efforts are put into the collection of data by the criminal justice community. Data can come in the form of internal departmental memorandums, police arrest and court records, or crime statistics and trends. Data can also come from video cameras and audio recording devices often used in surveillance activities. However, for this information to be fully utilized, there must be a way to convey and analyze the information both internally, within a department, and externally, among agencies. In addition, data obtained from video and audio recordings may require enhancement and analysis to render it useful.
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.