Technology to Fight Crime

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Technical Assistance and Training

• Vanguard Robot Assessment: The law enforcement community needs a low-cost robot that can reduce or eliminate the time of danger for a bomb technician who must inspect, x-ray, and disrupt an explosive device. This document discusses the Vanguard robot performance compared to other bomb-disposal robots. The Vanguard has a large percentage of the features required by law enforcement. Criteria for evaluation include cost and operating range.

• Education and Training in Forensic Science: A Guide for Forensic Science Laboratories, Educational Institutions, and Students. The validity of results of forensic investigations depends on the knowledge, skills, and experience of the forensic scientists working to obtain them. This NIJ Special Report presents consensus criteria and recommendations to establish best practices for educating and training forensic scientists. The information serves students as they prepare for a career in forensic science, educational institutions as they develop and revamp curriculums, and forensic scientists as they advance their knowledge, skills, and abilities in constantly evolving forensic science disciplines.

• Law Enforcement Technology-Are Small and Rural Agencies Equipped and Trained? Small and rural law enforcement agencies use—and are well trained in the use of—computers and communications-related technologies. But they are not making full use of other specialized technologies that could be useful to them in performing their law enforcement functions. This is one of the findings from a recent national study that surveyed small agencies about their use of technology and their technology training needs. Technologies underused in small agencies include car-mounted mobile digital/data terminals, digital imaging for fingerprints or suspect composites, mapping systems, night vision equipment, and less-lethal weapons. This Research for Practice discusses the study, the limitations most small agencies face, and where to go for information about obtaining equipment and training.

• Crime Scene Investigation: A Reference for Law Enforcement. A crime scene investigator needs to use sound scene processing practices to recover useful evidence. This reference is designed to help trainers and administrators develop training programs for crime scene investigators. It is intended to accompany Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for Law Enforcement, published by NIJ. Each part of this report includes proposed performance objectives for the student to ensure attainment of the material. Student performance can be measured using written and practical examinations, including the processing of a mock crime scene.

• Español for Law Enforcement: An Interactive Training Tool:
  This CD-ROM (NCJ 201801) was developed to help law enforcement officers obtain a working knowledge of Spanish and apply it to law enforcement situations. The video walks viewers through English translations, phonetic spellings, and pronunciations of Spanish words in situations involving interviews, crime scenes, motor vehicles, and domestic violence.

• Eyewitness Trainer's Manual Available!
  Eyewitness evidence is often essential in identifying, charging, and ultimately convicting perpetrators. Law enforcement personnel must be trained properly to ensure that it's obtained accurately and reliably. This Manual assists law enforcement trainers with creating and instructing courses on eyewitness evidence, particularly interviewing witnesses and conducting lineups. It provides instructors with sample lesson plans, explanations grounded in research, and multimedia presentations that supplement key points in the training curriculum. The Manual is based on the NIJ publication, Eyewitness Evidence: A Guide for Law Enforcement.

• Critical Incident Response Technology Seminar
  NIJ has sponsored several advanced bomb disablement technology demonstrations since 1996, through technology seminars starting with Operation Riverside and continuing with Operation America. In 2002, the National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board (NBSCAB) requested that NIJ expand the format of these seminars to address other technologies of interest to the bomb practitioner as well as current information on potential threats. NIJ has teamed with the FBI, the BATF and the Technical Support Working Group to sponsor these expanded seminars under the title of Critical Incident Response Technology Seminars (CIRTS).

• Technology Assistance Publications from the National Institue of Justice:

NIJ publishes and sponsors documents for agencies looking for technology assistance. Technology assistnace publications include:
• Selection and application guides designed to assist law enforcement and procurement officials choose equipment that will satisfy their needs. 
• Investigative guides that include recommended minimum procedures that should be employed at every scene to obtain the most reliable evidence. 
• Equipement performance reports and bulletins that present results from comparative evaluations performed under NIJ's standards and testing program
• Technology Assistance from NIJ's National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC): 

Providing technology information and assistance is the primary activity of the NLECTC system. Examples of NLECTC's capabilities include:
• Technology Identification
• Evidence Analysis
• Information Systems
• Communications Systems
• Sensors and Surveillance
• School Safety Resources
• Training Assistance from NIJ's National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) 

The NLECTC system helps introduce new and emerging technologies to those who can use them. Examples of training assistance include:
• Crime Mapping Training--provides technical assistance and introductory and advanced training to local and state agencies in the areas of crime and intelligence analysis and geographic information systems (GIS).
• Mock Prison Riot-- showcases emerging corrections and law enforcement technologies and gives corrections officer and tactical team members an opportunity to use and evaluate emerging technologies in riot training scenarios. 
• NIJ Technology Insitutes--annual, week-long technology institute for law enforcement and corrections personnel.
• NIJ Annual Technology Conference--conference and exhibition to convey technology information to public safety officers. The focus changes each year, but past conferences have looked at land transportation security and counterterrorism.
• Testing the Capabilities of Facial Recognition Systems: Face Recognition Vendor Tests (FRVT) provide independent government evaluations of commercially available and mature prototype face recognition systems. These evaluations are designed to provide government and law enforcement agencies with information to assist them in determining where and how facial recognition technology can best be deployed. In addition, FRVT results help identify future research directions for the face recognition community. The FRVT is co-sponsored by the Department of Defense Counterdrug Technology Development Program Office, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and NIJ.

• Patrol Vehicle Purchase Assistance: Autobid is designed to help fleet administrators select the patrol vehicle that is best suited to the needs of their department. The system is based on the evaluation criteria used in the Michigan State Police Tests, sponsored by NLECTC. 
• The Office for Domestic Preparedness State and Local Domestic Preparedness Training and Technical Assistance Program provides direct training and technical assistance to state and local jurisdictions to enhance their capacity and preparedness to respond to domestic incidents. 
• Crime mapping tools available for download from NIJ's Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety program.
• NIJ MAPS Research Center's Training Modules. These modules are available to the general public for informational purposes, to be used in training sessions, and for self-paced instruction. Users are free to adapt the information presented in these modules to your individual training and informational needs.

• The Crime Mapping and Analysis Program, Denver, Colorado offers a two week introductory course as well as courses in more advanced applications. For course schedules and other information, contact Noah Fritz at (800) 416-8086 or (303) 871-2500, by e-mail at nfritz@du.edu
• The Carolinas Institute for Community Policing, in collaboration with the Office of Community Oriented Policing, will be offering training in crime mapping through Regional Community Policing Institutes throughout the nation. The center will offer six courses that are appropriate for police officers, crime analysts, community members and researchers. offers a series of courses that emphasize crime mapping technology as an element of community policing. If the CICP site does not provide adequate information, course schedules and other information are available by contacting Linda Waddell at the Carolinas Institute for Community Policing, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department by phone at (704) 336-4899, by fax at (704) 336-7799, or by e-mail at pdlw@mail.charmeck.nc.us.
• Using Technology to Enable Collaboration (OVC, September 2001): This bulletin discusses the technology initiatives that community needs assessments revealed as critical for achieving the Victim Services 2000 goal of establishing a seamless, accessible system of services for all crime victims. The information included will help victim service providers and agencies determine the best technology for enhancing interagency collaboration to support victims in the community.
• Electronic Evidence Resource List: Legal, Technical and Training . This list of resources was compiled by the NIJ-sponsored Technical Working Group for Investigation of Electronic Evidence (TWGIEE), a multidisciplinary group of content-area experts from both urban and rural locales from across the United States and the world. This list was prepared as part of the National Institute of Justice publication Electronic Crime Scene Investigation: A Guide for First Responders. 
• Training and Technical Assistance From BJA: For information on BJA-sponsored training and technical assistance, visit the Training and Technical Assistance database.

• Counter-Terrorism Training and Resources for Law Enforcement: This portal web site serves as a single point of access to counter-terrorism training opportunities and related materials available across the Federal Government and from private and nonprofit organizations. These resources will help every law enforcement decisionmaker develop strategic plans for professional training and local emergency response.

• The Law Enforcement Training Database is a catalog of all federally funded and supported training available to state and local law enforcement officials. Each database listing includes the training provider, a course description, eligibility criteria, and contact information.
• OJJDP's National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) promotes the use of best practices and supports the delivery of high quality training and technical assistance to the juvenile justice field.
• Obtaining Excess Federal Property State and local law enforcement agencies can obtain excess Federal property at little or no cost in three different ways: 
• The 1033 Program
• Surplus Property Donation Program
• The 1122 Program
• Computers From DISA

For more information on these programs including sample letters and forms, download the Federal Property and Equipment Manual, pdf and ascii

Acquisition Assistance for Night Vision Goggles. Law enforcement and corrections agencies can acquire NVDs with a commercial price of $4,300 for just $300 per year under a loan-lease program sponsored by the Crane, Indiana, Naval Surface Warfare Center (NAVSURWARCENDIV Crane). Called the Night Vision Systems Law Enforcement Support Program, this initiative puts high-quality night vision goggles (model AN/PVS-5) refurbished to military standards into the hands of departments large and small. 

• Electronic Fraud Assistance: The US DOJ Criminal Division has prepared sites on Cybercrime, Internet Fraud and Telemarketing Fraud that provides consumer advice and links to resources for law enforcement and citizens. The Security and Exchange Commission has created a site for practical information for citizens called Internet Fraud: How to Avoid Internet Investment Scams.
• School Critical Incident Planning Resources The National Institute of Justice has gathered a list of Internet resources intended to assist law enforcement and school personnel with preparation, response, and resolution in regards to a school critical incident. Also listed are lessons learned, sample plans, and a list of organizations dealing with school violence.