With the inventions of new technologies come different ways for law enforcement to do their job. The Internet has been and is currently a big help to police departments. It not only gives police departments a better way to fight crime, but it also keeps the public safer as well. One of the ways that the Internet helps police departments is that it enables them to quickly track crime trends and then pass the information to the public. Getting the word out to the public about something going on in the neighborhood used to be quite difficult, but with crime mapping and the Internet, it can be done in a few clicks of a keyboard mouse.
Before the Internet and the use of crime software programs, departments literally used maps attached to pegboards and push pins to track crime. This was a time consuming task and while the police department was busy trying to figure out crime trends, it was taking a long time to get the information to the public. Police departments also used to have to use a crime analyst in order to help them pinpoint trends. Analysts are expensive to use as some departments were paying someone a year salary to track crime.The use of crime mapping software eliminates the need to pay that full time salary and it also cuts down on the amount of time that it takes to get the information to the people who need to know it.
Crime mapping works by using the Internet and software in order to find police reports and crime data trends. If a trend is noticed, law enforcement can quickly use email to make the public aware. Crime mapping still costs money, but nowhere near what it would cost to pay a full time analyst. Most crime mapping programs cost a couple hundred dollars a month, but it also helps law enforcement catch criminals more quickly. For example, if there was a spike in crimes in one neighborhood, it would give law enforcement a good idea on where the next instance of crime is going to occur.
As more law enforcement agencies use crime mapping and other similar software, a niche in law enforcement technology is being brought to light. By using technology, it is saving tax payer money and keeping the public safer.
For more information on crime mapping and how it works, see http://www.theinternettimemachine.com.
