Information Sharing News

Determining the identity of the owners of latent prints is often key to crime scene research. To identify the owner of a fingerprint left at the scene of a crime, a fingerprint examiner must carefully mark the distinguishing features of the full or partial print. New technology is now emerging that automates the marking of these distinguishing features. A National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) test shows that emerging software that automates the extraction of distinguishing features from latent prints is more advanced than expected.

New Jersey has more than 500 law enforcement agencies. These agencies have realized that there is a regional basis for where crimes occur and how they are solved, which necessitates improved ways of sharing information. New Jersey is a home-rule state; therefore, no centralized technology can be dictated to the local agencies. As a result, there is a hugely diverse collection of platforms for records management systems (RMS), computer aided dispatch (CAD), and information sharing query systems. New Jersey began using a standards-based approach to tackle information sharing challenges beginning with the Global Justice XML Data Model (GJXDM) and then incorporated the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM). This case study details the challenges faced, solutions identified, and the results observed from the actions taken to improve information sharing efforts.

Rapid advances in technology and an increased emphasis on data sharing, intelligence-led policing, and fusion center participation can result in an overwhelming volume of information for many agencies. One such technological advance is the rapidly expanding Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, which creates highly valuable sources of data that can improve decision making. Yet, if not properly understood and managed, the same data can significantly increase the risk of overload. This article explores the ability of agencies to successfully navigate GPS technology to enhance operations and improve efficiency.