This issue of TechBeat contains articles on the following areas of law enforcement technology: body armor, an iris (eye) recognition system, a regional law enforcement information sharing system, technology enhancements for patrol cars, programs of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security, and the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) system.
The first article reviews the evolution of the National Institute of Justice standards and testing for law enforcement body armor over the 30 years that it has been worn by officers. The article on the iris recognition system describes its use in tracking jail inmates in Jefferson County, CO. Because of the permanent and unique pattern of the iris of each eye, it can be used to identify a person. Iris recognition technology captures an image of the iris pattern with a camera, analyzes the digitized image mathematically, and compares the unique template to those in a database. The iris recognition system has reduced the staff time spent on identification and verification when inmates move in and out of the jail. Another article describes the information technology software used in the Alaska Law Enforcement Information Sharing System, which enables the sharing of information among approximately 30 agencies. A fourth article describes a technology that will allow a patrol officer to operate the equipment in his/her car with voice commands and touch screens. This is followed by an article that describes the advanced education programs offered by the Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security in Monterey, CA. The issue concludes with an article on the NLECTC system, which offers no-cost assistance to law enforcement and corrections agencies in implementing current and emerging technologies.