PROPERTY OF NationalCriminal Justice Reference 8ervico (NCJRS) 17q )13 C,#

Law Enforcement Mobile Computing: Armed with Information By KellyJ. Harris,SEARCH k Bureau of Justice Assistance, SEARCH Numerous law enforce- ment agencies throughout the Explore New Technologies country have turned to mobile The SEARCH Technical Bulletin is a quarterly publication computing with overwhelm- designed to examine emerging technologies in criminal ing success. Laptops outfitted justice information management. Research and publication ,with wireless communications of the Bulletin is funded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, packages allow officers to Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. access and query information The Bulletins identify, describe and assess new and from law enforcement agency emerging technologies that have existing or potential , databases and, in many cases, application in criminal justice information management. from a variety of local, state They alert practitioners to the existence of technologies and federal databases. Laptop which can benefit their management of information. computing gives officers the If you would like to submit an article for publication in ability to conduct important the Technical Bulletin, please contact SEARCH, The National research without the assis- Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, at (916) tance of a dispatcher, and to 392-2550. process information -- a powerful weapon at an officer's fingertips. the officer needs to approach department's records manage- the scene. ment system is instantly How it works Following an investigation populated by the officer's On routine patrol, a police of the scene, the officer files a report data, which investiga- officer is dispatched to a home report -- directly from the tors, crime analysts and others where domestic violence has patrol car. The report is can quickly access. Compare been reported. Before getting transferred instantaneously to this process to the traditional out of the car, the officer uses headquarters, reviewed by the time-consuming task of an a laptop computer outfitted officer's supervisor and officer returning at the end of with a wireless communica- approved for filing -- all a shift and handwriting formal :, tions system to instantly check accomplished electronically, reports, which are then the police department's without paper and without scheduled for supervisor database, as well as local, state the officer returning to review and subsequently sent ' ~md federal databases, for headquarters. The to data processing, where it information on the residence. The officer finds that there have been numerous police •~ PublicationFunded by ., responses to the location and Bureau of ' that a gun is registered to a Justice Assistance resident -- crucial information can often take days, if not goals associated with laptop mobile computing gives weeks, for those reports to be implementation included officers and investigators entered into the department's eliminating pen-and-paper access to abundant and crucial computer system and to be reporting and the redundant information that has the made available to investiga- and often error-prone data power to: tors, prosecutors and other entry of manual reports. These • ultimately improve officer interested parties. important benefits were and public safety, by realized as officers used instantly providing infor- Background laptops in the field to write mation that can make the Laptop computers are a their reports and then down- officer more effective and significant advancement from loaded them at the end of prepared when responding the "dumb" mobile digital their shift to the department's to an incident; terminals that have histori- mainframe computer system, • allow the officer to person- cally resided in patrol cars. The reporting software ally query agency, local, The dumb terminals only alone sped up the process of state and federal law allowed dispatch to send bits report-taking and report enforcement databases and pieces of information to availability, improved the from the patrol car, without the officer when requested. accuracy of officer reports by having to wait for an Since the late 1980s and reducing redundant data available dispatcher or to early 1990s, many law en- entry, and enhanced report return to headquarters; forcement agencies have been completeness and quality • send electronic mail (email) issuing laptop computers to through well-designed to other patrol cars, head- patrol officers and crime software. (Most software quarters and/or dispatch' investigators. Initially, the programs for report taking simultaneously; include preset menus with • enhance the quality of the The Technical Bulletin is published street names, penal codes and incident report by collect- by SEARCH, The National Con- descriptions, car makes and ing crucial data at the scene sortium for Justice Information models, etc.; mandatory fields using software that ensures and Statistics, with funding from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, that the system will not accept more complete and accu- U.S. Department of Justice. unless entered with data; rate reports; This document was prepared un- spell-checking; and automatic • eliminate paper reporting der grant number 95-DD-BX- copying of pertinent data and, therefore, redundant 0017, provided by the Bureau of fields such as name, address, and error-prone data entry; Justice Assistance, U;S. Depart- ment of Justice. The points of view date, time, etc., to each page of • allow electronic report or opinions stated in the docu- a report.) filing, thereby increasing ment are those of the authors and The next step forward is the speed at which investi- do not necessarily represent the interactive, wireless commu- gators can access the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. nications between the officer reports and begin an SEARCH is located at 7311 on the street, other patrol cars, investigation; Greenhaven Drive, Suite 145, Sac- headquarters and dispatch, • significantly reduce the ramento, California 95831, (916) and the ability to query a number of hours spent 392-2550. variety of remote databases. preparing and filing reports Dr. Francis J. Carney Jr. Laptops, combined with (returning officers to the Chairman advanced communications streets quickly); Gary R. Cooper technologies and a good • save money through time Executive Director software package, transform saved generating reports" Sheila J. Barton Deputy Director officersand investigators on and reducing or eliminat4 George A. Buck the street into valuable ing data entry, and tl~rough Deputy Director contributors to and users of reducing dispatcher David J. Roberts the vast information resources workloads, paper usage, ' Deputy Director available from a variety of law copying and distribution', Kelly J. Harris enforcement databases. and storage space needed, Editor Agencies using it report that • give officers and investiga- tion system integration with implementation, and users The Washington State other justice agencies, such as must be thoroughly trained PatroI uses standard IBM the prosecutor, courts and jail, and continuously updated on ThinkPads, the Houston should also be considered at the advances in technology. Police Department uses this time. Several law enforce- Fortunately, most newly Toshiba, Compac and Zenith ment agencies beginning the designed programs for law laptops, and the Alexandria laptop implementation enforcement usage are very Police Department is using process are also upgrading user-friendly, relying on semi-ruggedized laptops from reporting practices .and are Windows-based, point-and- Fujitsu. considering what information click technologies, that make Ruggedized or not, to capture and how to pass the training faster and easier. SEARCH Technical Assistance information to the prosecu- Getting officers and other staff (who provide technical tor's office. users involved in the design of assistanc e andtrain_ _~gto the system is also crucial in criminal justice agencies Project Support developing a system that nationwide on information An agency implementing meets officers' needs, as well management technology mobile computing must als o as makes the learning process issues, under a grant from the consider such operational a bit easier. Bureau of Justice Assistance, issues as hiring .on-site techni- U.S. Department of Justice) cal staff to support the laptop Technology Issues advise that laptops be config- project or developing user The following briefly ured to accommodate the training programs. It is also highlights the.primary techni- most current technologies, as crucial that the agency realize cal issues an agency must well as those mandated by that technology is constantly consider when implementing upcoming program initiatives evolving, and that upgrading a mobile computing system, (such as NCIC 2000 and and replacing technology is an including the laptop hardware IAFIS). SEARCH recommends important planning element. and software. (Wireless the following basic laptop Many agencies face budget co~unications packages and configurations: Pentium limitations that preclude security, which are also laptops with 16 MB of continuous expansion of their important technical aspects of memory, 850 MB hard drives technical staff to support those mobile computing, will be and active matrix screens. facets of an agency. The key to discussed in greater detail in With respect to those dealing with this issue, some Part 2 of this Technical Bulletin agencies considering docking agencies have found, is to series.) Obviously, the techni, the laptop in a patrol car, make sure all users are well- cal needs vary by agency. selecting a docking station can trained in the technology. "We Laptops. In years past, be one of the more difficult look at the laptops like we do many law enforcement tasks. There is a broad range tt~e officers' car, weapon and agencies had difficulty with of manufacturers for the radio -- they must know how •standard laptop computers various patrol car docking to use these tools to do their unless they were specifically stations, and a price and job properly, and the same "ruggedized" for heavy usage. features check is often the best goes for the computer. They Dim screens, breakable parts, a department can do in cannot run to the technical sensitivity to heat and cold , selecting the appropriate staff every time they have a and short battery lives frus- dock. problem," said Cmdr. Steele. trated users. Technology has Cmdr. Leichner warns "Computer literacy is a major advanced so significantly in agencies to select their docks emphasis, and we select one the last several years, how- carefully. "This is an area officer from each unit to ever, that many departments where standards are particu- become the coordinator for are now using commercial larly needed," he said. ~'Agen- that unit's computer educa- laptops that have not been cies have purchased docking tion program." heavily ruggedized for fleet stations in the past that have Training, then, is an usage, and report they are not met their needs when integral element in system pleased with these computers. expanding or implementing officer's written notes, often for an entirely new automated that troopers can swipe a days after the incident. records management system driver's license through the "Implementing a mobile the State Patrol is designing. reader and receive Depart- computing system is the time Hand-in-hand with assess- ment of Motor Vehicle infor- to be creative," said Cmdr. ing the department's future is mation. Steele. "This is the time to to consider issues and events In addition, the State Patrol realize that you do not have to occurring at the federal, state designed its software to just replace the old MDTs, but and local levels that may capture the reporting fields look at the challenge offered impact the mobile computing required under NIBRS. By by how much more you can system design. In particular, adding these fields to new do With the laptops -- how specific programs and legisla- software introduced to the much more information is tion, such as the FBI's NCIC troopers, the implementation available and the versatility of 2000, the Integrated Auto- of NIBRS was virtually that data." mated Fingerprint Identifica- transparent. Future updates to Therefore, the first, and tion System (IAFIS) and the the system, such as adding most important, part of National incident-Based new reporting requirements, planning for a mobile comput- Reporting System (NIBRS) are easily added to the com- ing system is developing a will impact the mobile com~ puter program. This is much strategic plan, adds Cmdr. puting system and its techni- simpler, of course, than Steele, who spearheaded his cal requirements. This is an redesigning, copying and department's effort. "Assess- excellent opportunity to redistributing paper forms. ing the future needs of the incorporate the requirements Other agencies implementing department and developing a of these initiatives and their laptops also agree this is the plan for getting there is the mandates (to the extent they most logical and suitable time most important part of the are known) into the new to redesign systems to be process." project, rather than retrofitting compliant with incident-based For instance, if the agency or redesigning later. Cmdr. reporting. maintains or plans to upgrade Steele notes that the motiva- Many law enforcement the computer-aided dispatch tion to begin implementing agencies are taking advantage (CAD) and records manage- laptops in his agency of other laptop applications ment systems (RMS), or to stemmed directly from the that can be developed to assist implement automated vehicle need to meet the future officers and other department location systems with global requirements of NCIC 2000, employees in making their satellite positioning, the IAFIS and NIBRS. jobs more effective and mobile computing project In Washington State, efficient. The Washington should be developed to project personnel made sure State Patrol is currently ultimately integrate with the hardware and software working on an enhancement those new systems. Cmdr. they purchased was config- project that will allow users to Steele says the Alexandria ured to handle file compres- enter, edit, send, receive and Police Department is looking sion for transferring large format data for interfacing at a different approach to data image files (such as finger- with the computer-aided processing that focuses on prints and mugshots, in dispatch and time and activity moving information "from the compliance with NCIC 2000 systems; a trooper contacts rim to the hub." In other and IAFIS). "It is our plan," database; and field intelli- words, he explained, "we are said Cmdr. Leichner, "for gence reporting and comput- using the officer's data input troopers to eventually be able erized license investigation from the field as the starting to scan fingerprints in the field repository databases. Consid- point to build a new CAD and for identification purposes, eration can also be given to RMS that feed off of that and to receive mugshots in the the data collection needs of information, not the other way patrol car." The State Patrol other agency units, such as around." also ensured the laptops were crime analysis and investiga- In Washington State, the barcode-compliant'and tion. laptop system will be the basis magnetic reader-compliant, so Future or planned informa tors access to the Internet total savings of 40 minutes per mobile computing project has and other online databases report, the department saves been extremely well-received for legal research; an estimated 600-700 work by officers, and is considered • be an integral component of hours each day entering a significant enhancement to a fully-integrated com- approximately 1,000 reports community policing. "Our puter-aided dispatch, with the laptop software."1 officers call their laptops automated vehicle location, The Washington State 'Tactical Computer Systems,'" geographic information Patrol (WSP) operates a said Commander Tom Steele and records management Mobile Computer Network in of the Alexandria Police system; and five of its counties. Over 300 Department, where 30 laptops • free up voice dispatch lines vehicles are outfitted with have been installed, with for emergencies. IBM ThinkPad computers, plans for 22 more. "Our units .and there are plans to eventu- give us the capability to go to Operational experiences ally outfit over 1,000 vehicles. a crime scene and take our The benefits of mobile Using commercial off-the- units out of the car to collect computing are exceptional shelf software and private and process information as and agencies that have radio frequencies, state patrol part of our community implemented the technology troopers electronically ex- policing strategy." are experiencing significant change files and link to the improvements in the business State Patrol's information Implementation considerations of administering justice, and management system, other The speed, power and users are pleased with the state agencies and the Na- access provided to law systems and results. tional Law Enforcement enforcement agencies by The Houston (Texas) Police Telecommuni'cations System. mobile computing technology Department, which has Commander Robert Leichner, can profoundly change the implemented approximately Intergovernmental Services way an agency conducts 2,000 laptops in the patrol, Bureau, says the troopers business, and in many cases, investigation and training using the mobile computers implementing a new system is divisions, notes that one of the are pleased with the technol- an opportune time to evaluate most significant benefits the ogy. "At first they didn't even current business practices and department has realized is want to try it," Cmdr. how they can be improved. that of time reduction. Ac- / Leichner says. "Now you can't With wireless computing, cording to a report prepared take it away from them. They officers have near-instanta- by the department, "Houston think it's exceptional." neous access to a broader Police Department Laptop Following the implementa- range of information at their Project," field officers who tion of wireless computing, will -- not just when a busy used the laptops for incident WSP has experienced a dispatcher carl find time to reports "reduced the time it significant increase in trooper answer a request. Mobile took them to get a report on queries to a variety of data- computing also means that the mainframe from five days bases. Despite the increase in law enforcement officers will to eight hours or less, improv- queries, the State Patrol has be able to Work from the field ing the likelihood of solving also experienced a significant -- and not have to return to crimes and facilitating crime reduction in voice traffic headquarters for patrol or analysis." The report further (which reserves the airways investigative information. notes that the elimination of for emergencies). The increase Perhaps most importantly, the officer field notes and direct has been so significant that incident data are collected and data entry into the laptop Cmdr. Leichner says the entered into the system at the saved approximately 15 troopers without laptops most crucial time and by the minutes per report. Addition- believe that they are at a most knowledgeable person: ally, "staff review saves 10 significant disadvantage to during or immediately after minutes per report because troopers computing remotely the incident, by the officer on the laptop program automati- from the field. the scene -- not a data entry cally codes each report. With a In Alexandria, Virginia, the clerk who must translate an .... ],I ...... 7"4 , =---~---',, IL t1 ...... ~ tl+jl r v---r---~--r--~tL, I _

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newer technologies." He " practices thatmay be ineffi- Designing new reporting / added that the Washington cient. software also gives agencies State Patrol had to replace Design of software should the opportunity to incorporate several docking stations incorporate "safety" features NIBRS reporting requirements because they did not allow for that reduce error and simplify and introduce them simulta- the department's addition of the related processes as much neously with the new system. new technologies, such as a as possible. For instance, The next issue of the fingerprint scanning station or many report-writing software Technical Bulletin will explore magnetic stripe readers. applications include preset the controversy over and Software. There are many menus for penal codes, street advantages and disadvan- commercial off-the-shelf names, etc., and automatic tages, as well as the security software packages that can be default of pertinent fields such implications, of public and implemented, and many law as name, address, etc. Many private radio systems and enforcement agencies have applications check spelling, their use in law enforcement found success with them. and most mandate completed mobile computing. Other agencies have had very forms before they can be For more information on positive experiences designing transmitted to the mobile computing (including their own software with in- department's databases. links to other articles and house staff. At the Houston Police publications, as well as justice Applications that justice Department, staff developed a agencies implementing mobile agencies are designing and reporting program that computing) and other justice- implementing include not ensures several levels of related technical issues, please only report-writing software, accuracy and completeness. visit the SEARCH and BJA but also time and activity logs, The program includes, for Technical Assistance Ex- computer-aided dispatch, example: conditional window change Forum Web Site at field intelligence databases, fields (i.e., an officer's choice http://www.taexchange. and officer contacts databases. is limited to the models for a search.org. It is most important at this selected make of automobile); time to review the agency's data validation, including Endnotes current processes and to numbers validated via check- 1"Houston Police Department update and redesign those (if digit and vehicle identification Laptop Project", an unpublished report by the City of Houston Police necessary) before developing number; and automatic age Department. the software, and not simply calculations made based on to automate existing business the date of birth entered.

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE Technical Bulletin PAID featuring emerging technologies in criminal justice informationmanagement Permit No. 1632 Sacramento, CA

>~ PROPERTY OF Nationa| Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) Box 6000 Rockville, IvlD ?~1~49-6000 '. , SEARCH I I The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics 7311 Greenhaven Drive, Suite 145 * Sacramento, California 95831 Telephone (916) 392-2550