Automated Technology in Law Enforcement Autumn Owens ClaimClaim Automated technologies within law enforcement serve the purpose of protecting citizens and aiding in law enforcement without causing unnecessary burden on the system and citizens themselves. What is Automated Technology? Automation is the usage of machines and technology to reduce or eliminate the need for humans. Often in law enforcement, it is defined as any computer-based system that can use information from unmanned sensors to determine if a crime has taken place. Automation is the usage of machines and technology to reduce or eliminate the need for humans. Often in law enforcement, it is defined as any computer-based system that can use information from unmanned sensors to determine if a crime has taken place. Why its Useful for Law Enforcement In law enforcement, automated technology is often used as a way to protect officers and citizens by reducing the number of dangerous situations officers are placed in. It is also used to reduce the workload of officers so they can focus on other various tasks. In law enforcement, automated technology is often used as a way to protect officers and citizens by reducing the number of dangerous situations officers are placed in. It is also used to reduce the workload of officers so they can focus on other various tasks. Modern Examples Red light cameras: photographs vehicles that enter intersections after the light has turned red. Automatic license-plate reader (ALPR): used to identify vehicles by their license plates, often identifies a person or vehicle whose license plate is connected to a crime. Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS): automatically searches databases for matching fingerprints. Significantly reduces time to match fingerprints. Red light cameras: photographs vehicles that enter intersections after the light has turned red. Automatic license-plate reader (ALPR): used to identify vehicles by their license plates, often identifies a person or vehicle whose license plate is connected to a crime. Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS): automatically searches databases for matching fingerprints. Significantly reduces time to match fingerprints. The Future of Automated Law Enforcement Police currently have robots to diffuse bombs and for surveillance in potentially dangerous situations. These robots are not fully automated however. In the future, possibilities are limitless. One day there might be fully automated law enforcement officers. Police currently have robots to diffuse bombs and for surveillance in potentially dangerous situations. These robots are not fully automated however. In the future, possibilities are limitless. One day there might be fully automated law enforcement officers. The Future of Automated Law Enforcement Science fiction author Isaac Asimov created The Three Laws of Robotics: 1.A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2.A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3.A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law Automated officers may one day use these rules. Science fiction author Isaac Asimov created The Three Laws of Robotics: 1.A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. 2.A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. 3.A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law Automated officers may one day use these rules. ControversyControversy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PArQ_UBXcuA Many people disagree with modern automated technology in law enforcement. For example, people think that red light cameras are used as a way to only gather revenue. This is however untrue. Statistics show that the number of crashes in intersections with cameras has decreased over the years. People also believe that law enforcement is trying to track them with newer technology. Some technology completely removes the need for humans which creates an increasingly fair treatment of individuals committing the same crime. Human officers have discretion of the law which can sometimes create inequalities within the system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PArQ_UBXcuA Many people disagree with modern automated technology in law enforcement. For example, people think that red light cameras are used as a way to only gather revenue. This is however untrue. Statistics show that the number of crashes in intersections with cameras has decreased over the years. People also believe that law enforcement is trying to track them with newer technology. Some technology completely removes the need for humans which creates an increasingly fair treatment of individuals committing the same crime. Human officers have discretion of the law which can sometimes create inequalities within the system. Works Cited Chatfield, T. (2014, March 31). Automated Ethics. Aeon Magazine. Conti, G., Hartzog, W., Larkin, D., Nelson, J., & Shay, L., (2012, April 2). Confronting Automated Law Enforcement. Retrieved March 2, Dror, I., & Mnookin, J. (2010). The use of technology in human expert domains: Challenges and risks arising from the use of automated fingerprint identification systems in forensic science. Law, Probability and Risk, 9, Griffith, M. (2005, April 1). Safety Evaluation of Red-Light Cameras Executive Summary. Retrieved March 1, Rachels, J., & Rachels, S., (2014). The Case Against Free Will. In Evolving Ideas ( Edition ed., pp ). Plymouth: Hayden-McNeil. Chatfield, T. (2014, March 31). Automated Ethics. Aeon Magazine. Conti, G., Hartzog, W., Larkin, D., Nelson, J., & Shay, L., (2012, April 2). Confronting Automated Law Enforcement. Retrieved March 2, Dror, I., & Mnookin, J. (2010). The use of technology in human expert domains: Challenges and risks arising from the use of automated fingerprint identification systems in forensic science. Law, Probability and Risk, 9, Griffith, M. (2005, April 1). Safety Evaluation of Red-Light Cameras Executive Summary. Retrieved March 1, Rachels, J., & Rachels, S., (2014). The Case Against Free Will. In Evolving Ideas ( Edition ed., pp ). Plymouth: Hayden-McNeil.