Critical Issues Paper

Critical Issues Paper

Keith Carter

May 10, 2015

Harvey Smith

CJS/210

The critical issues law enforcement face each day tend to change over time with some issues being small and some rather hefty.  An issue that has progressed in the past decade is the use of technology that law enforcement agencies are using today. If you think about how policing was 20 years ago and the equipment used in policing compared to now, you would probably wonder how effective and  precise officers were years ago. Maybe it just means officers were better at policing having to work harder with little assistance. Now technology has made the use of those old tactics with better and more convenient equipment like radios, cell phones, computers, cameras, the ability to do DNA testing, updated computerized finger printing, and electronic warrant process plus more. Technology has evolved to make policing easier and safer and more effective for all officers.

Take for instance the radio’s used by police today compared to those the police used years ago, some of the first radios were  short wave radio’s meaning  an officer could lose communication owing to being out of range, thus making such radio’s inoperable and  increasing safety risk.  Today the police have high band radios in the police cars and personal radios of all shapes and sizes. Police as well as many others, now also carry cell phones just in case they are away from such radios or off duty, the officer still have means of communication, not to mention cell phones can be tracked if need be by global positioning sensor.

            The police use computers for storing information on criminals as well as a means of communication. Computes are also installed in the police cars for instant access and connection to the database. This really comes in handy when police need to have instant access to information on a certain individual. The police can pull up specific reports needed about a certain subject, which permits the police to be prepared if faced with confrontation. (Grant, 2008)  Computers are also used for the updated warrant process. Years ago courts would issue warrants in the form of paper for the police to make arrest, but this process did not extend to surrounding areas, thus permitting criminals to slip through the cracks by skipping town. The police and courts found that this process was time consuming and now the process is computer generated and is processed to different agencies and the click of a button.

       The less-than-lethal weapons have the potential of causing serious injury and even death in certain circumstances but I feel it should be a first practice in attempt to save life in a hostile situation. Therefore, while these weapons are not perfect, they provide police agencies and officers with options between lethal force and physical muscle. There is really no such thing as a safe force but less than lethal force would be a very effective approach in today’s society. There has been quite a bit of deaths owing to officers opening fire on subjects. I would say using a taser, pepper spray, bean bag or rubber bullet can be just as effective with less of the casualty. The sole purpose is to exterminate the threat so why not use the nonlethal approach if it works the same. There would definitely be less chaos between the public and the police around the nation. The problem is the lethal force being used in these simple situations so less lethal force may be praised at this point.