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The Role of Global Positional Systems in Policing and Crime Prevention

GPS technology offers several benefits for law enforcement agencies: 1) GPS allows for more efficient response and enhanced officer safety through automatic vehicle location systems and critical incident mapping. 2) GPS supports specialized operations like bait vehicles and accident reconstruction by precisely documenting evidence locations. 3) Monitoring systems using GPS technology allow probation officers to continuously track probationers' locations through electronic ankle bracelets or remote tracking systems.

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SaChibvuri Jeremiah
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24 views

The Role of Global Positional Systems in Policing and Crime Prevention

GPS technology offers several benefits for law enforcement agencies: 1) GPS allows for more efficient response and enhanced officer safety through automatic vehicle location systems and critical incident mapping. 2) GPS supports specialized operations like bait vehicles and accident reconstruction by precisely documenting evidence locations. 3) Monitoring systems using GPS technology allow probation officers to continuously track probationers' locations through electronic ankle bracelets or remote tracking systems.

Uploaded by

SaChibvuri Jeremiah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Role of Global

Positional Systems in
Policing and Crime
Prevention

William J. Artis Jr.


FRS 142: Where’s Waldo
April 19, 2004
Topics of Discussion
• What is GPS?

• GPS and Policing:

• Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)

• Critical Incident Mapping, Management, and Documentation

• Mobile Computing and Field Reporting Systems

• Monitoring probationers and parolees by GPS


What is GPS?

The United States Coast Guard defines GPS


as “a satellite-based radio-navigation
system.” GPS operates when a network of
satellites “read” the signal sent by a user’s
unit (which emits a radio signal). A GPS unit
receives data transmitted from satellites, and
at least three satellite data inputs are
necessary for accurate measurements.
GPS
The unit then interprets the data
providing information on
longitude, latitude, and altitude.
GPS receivers can be
integrated with other systems,
such as a transponder or
transmitter. The transmitter
takes information from the GPS
receiver and transmits it to a
defined station, such as a police
dispatcher. The dispatcher must
have the system to both receive
the transmission in “real time”
along with the GPS data.
GPS was originally developed by the military to aid in navigation.
Naval vessels, aircraft, and land vehicles could all determine their
exact location to a high degree of accuracy in a matter of seconds
without human error. Currently, corporations are developing GPS
as a way to enhance customer service, to track inventory, and
enhance security.
GPS and Policing
GPS technology offers numerous benefits to law enforcement
agencies of all types. For some agencies, the navigational
capabilities offered by GPS enhances efficiency and safety.
These navigational applications can be used to support a
variety of policing and criminal justice functions. Other agencies
use GPS positioning technologies to carry out special
operations or to provide enhanced personnel safety.
As a navigational tool, GPS can be a powerful asset for law
enforcement users. Using computerized maps of their
jurisdictions in conjunction with GPS, aviation personnel can
determine:
location
speed
time
The positioning capabilities offered by GPS may
also contribute to the success of specialized law
enforcement operations such as in bait vehicles.

One such program operated in Minneapolis led to a


60% reduction in auto theft after only one month.
Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL)
These systems provide:

•efficiency of response and help ensure


officer safety

•officer with accurate information


concerning the best response route to an
incident

•officers information that allows the


closest patrol officers to be dispatched to
a particular incident
Critical Incident Mapping, Management, and
Documentation

 Advanced Transportation Management Systems (ATMS) are


heavily dependant upon GPS technology to provide data about
the road system.

 Most people associate law enforcement with the prevention,


reduction, and prosecution of criminal activity. In fact, a large
portion of local law enforcement resources are involved in
facilitating the movement of people and vehicles in a safe
manner.
GPS allows for law enforcement personnel to clear
roadway blockages to ensure the safety of motorist.
Mobile Computing and Field Reporting
Systems

With the use of differential GPS (DGPS),


investigators can precisely relate evidence
placement to crime scene reconstruction
diagrams.

The same applies to accident investigation


and reconstruction.
The Systems of Global Positioning allows
cases to be graphically displayed to show the
temporal and spatial relationships of crime
reports, witness statements, evidence, and
crime scene drawings.
Monitoring probationers
and parolees by GPS
 Continuous monitoring of the location of the probationers can be
done through a Global Positioning System.
 The cost of the receivers, although decreasing, is certainly a
factor.
 Electronic ankle bracelets can been used to monitor
probationers; typically, these devices will trigger a telephone call
to the probation officer when the probationer moves more than a
specified distance from a location.
 Such devices could, in theory, also be used to detect violations
of restraining orders or other special conditions of probation or
parole.
Police departments in at least 16 states of United
States use SMART (Satellite Monitoring and
Remote Tracking).

Unlike conventional house arrest systems that only


monitor when offenders leave or return home, SMART
system keeps track of offenders anywhere, at all
times.
The unit is ‘smart:’ it contains “rules of release”
which stipulate where the offender should be at all
times. If an offender breaks these rules of release,
the system automatically warns the offender and
then sends a message to a control center if the
problem is not immediately corrected.
In Conclusion…

Large-volume commercial applications such as


cellular phones, personal communication systems,
and in-vehicle navigation systems will fuel continued
development of these technologies. What was
ultimately the domain of the Department of Defense
is rapidly becoming available for business, private,
and general government use. Policing and public
safety in general, will benefit from these market
forces. It is clear that there are a number of GPS
applications for policing.
The future prospects of GPS technology are virtually limitless.
The
End

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