High-Priority Information Technology Needs for Law Enforcement

• NCJ Number: 248594
• Author(s): John S. Hollywood; John E. Boon; Richard Silberglitt; Brian G. Chow; Brian A. Jackson
• Date Published: 2015
• Length: 95 pages
• Publication Series: NIJ Identifying the Highest Priority Criminal Justice Needs
• Grant Number(s): 2010-IJ-CX-K007
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Award: National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center's (NLECTC) Information and Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence (COE)

Annotation

In this report, the RAND Corporation's Information and Geospatial Technologies Center, which is part of the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ's) National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) system, presents high-priority information technology (IT) needs for law enforcement, based on the collection and analysis of data through technology assessment studies, extensive outreach and liaison activities, and subject-matter expert panels.

Abstract

The center identified 11 high-priority IT needs for law enforcement. These are grouped into the following three broad categories: a need to improve the law enforcement community's knowledge of technology and practices; a need to improve the sharing and use of information relevant to law enforcement; and a need to conduct research, development, testing, and evaluation (RDT&E). Regarding the first IT priority - improving the law enforcement community's knowledge of technology - the center received repeated calls to improve the dissemination of knowledge about technology in general. Specific needs include having a federally sponsored repository of best practices and technology information; links to technology guides, information, and practices experts; and links to free and inexpensive tools. Regarding the second priority - improving the sharing and use of law enforcement information - the strongest theme was to improve information sharing across multiple agencies and systems. The number and extent of criminal justice technology information-dissemination efforts already operating suggests that what is needed is strategic coordination rather than new efforts. Suggestions are offered for this effort. Regarding the third broad priority - providing other technology RDT&E - the main theme calls for non-material deliverables (research, guidance, and training on new processes and techniques) rather than technology deliverables (new tools or products). 10 figures and 10 tables