Special Technologies for Law Enforcement and Corrections

• NCJ Number: 208707
• Journal: National Institute of Justice Journal Issue: 252 Dated: July 2005 Pages: 22-27
• Author(s): William Falcon
• Date Published: July 2005
• Length: 6 pages
• Publication Series: NIJ Journal
• Agencies: NIJ
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This article describes a few of the special technologies being developed in three regional facilities established by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).

Abstract

The three regional facilities are the Border Research and Technology Center (BRTC), the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC)-Northwest, and the NLECTC-Southeast. BRTC, whose mission is to strengthen security technology capabilities and awareness along the Nation's borders, assisted an Arizona jail facility by determining the feasibility of using available drug-detection equipment to detect trace amounts of illicit drugs on or in inmate mail. The technology tested was a hand-portable unit (Hound II systems) developed by Sandia National Laboratories, and a benchtop detector (Barringer IONSCAN 400B), which is suitable only for use at a fixed location. Both types of equipment performed well in the mailroom setting, finding traces of methamphetamine, LSD, cocaine, and marijuana on and in approximately 10 percent of incoming inmate mail. NLECTC-Northwest provided technical assistance in the creation and mission of the Alaska Law Enforcement Information-Sharing System in the development of software and hardware that permits data interoperability (communication and data sharing across previously incompatible information systems) throughout the State. With its focus on information technology, NLECTC-Southeast has been providing geographic profiling assistance to law enforcement agencies for several years. Such profiling helps agencies understand how an offender traverses an area in search of victims. 11 notes