TECHBeat, June 2018

• NCJ Number: 251793
• Date Published: June 2018
• Length: 10 pages
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Grant Number(s): 2014-IJ-CX-K404
• Award: A proposal to operate the National Criminal Justice Technology Resource Center.

Annotation

Feature articles in this issue focus on a report by the Forensic Technology Center of Excellence (FTCoE) that provides information on portable drug-testing devices, a Pennsylvania system that tracks and centralizes drug overdose information, an update on prisoner recidivism, the use of unmanned aircraft systems for public safety, and other news pertinent to public safety technology.

Abstract

"FTCoE Report Provides Insights, Information on Portable Drug Testing Devices" presents an overview of FCoE's "Landscape Study of Field Portable Devices for Presumptive Drug Testing,"which discusses the benefits, limitations, and implementation considerations for the various technologies for such portable devices. It compares how various devices work and presents agency case studies of their use. It also provides a glossary, information on emerging technologies, and a side-by-side comparison of product features. "Pennsylvania System Tracks and Centralizes Drug Overdose Information" describes Pennsylvania's establishment of a statewide online system that tracks and shares information on drug overdoses, administration of the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, and investigative leads and markings for street drugs. "Report: Update on Prisoner Recidivism" summarizes the recidivism patterns of former prisoners during a 9-year follow-up period. The Bureau of Justice Statistics' 2018 Update on Prisoner Recidivism: A 9-Year Follow-up Period (2005-2014) provides data on the number and types of crimes prisoners committed after release by offender characteristics, commitment offense, whether the arrest was within or outside the state of release, and whether released prisoners had no subsequent arrests during the follow-up period. "Public Safety Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems" reports on the features and limitations of a database maintained at Bard College by its Center for the Study of the Drone. This database includes all known law enforcement and emergency response agencies that are reported to own at least one drone.