This article discusses the importance and characteristics of careful planning and analysis when law enforcement agencies are evaluating, choosing, implementing, and managing a new technology. The process requires careful planning and analysis, especially for small agencies with limited resources. Included is a list of suggestions that any law enforcement agency should take into consideration when contemplating new technology: assemble a management team and ensure the team includes whoever is going to actually use the technology, whether a patrol officer, dispatcher or records support person; research all the issues and ask many questions; conduct a needs assessment to determine if the department truly requires the technology; review all the needs and try and consider the projected outcome; evaluate how the technology will integrate with other technologies the department is currently using or planning to use; weigh upfront and ongoing costs; review funding for purchase and be creative in researching grants and other funding alternatives; evaluate long-term impact to determine if there is a larger impact down the road besides obtaining the product; and evaluate long-term costs to determine the ongoing costs and replacement strategy should the equipment fail or need to be replaced.
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