Articles

Technology July 26, 2023

How Long Does DNA Last on Different Surfaces?

Recent NIJ funded research reveals how long DNA is detectable on various surfaces under different conditions. This article is based on the grantee report, “Persistence of Touch DNA for Forensic Analysis,” by Meghan Ramsey. Since the first use of DNA evidence in a criminal case in 1986, forensic scientists have considered biological material (such as hair, skin and bodily fluids) to be relatively reliable physical evidence. While early technology required a substantial amount of biological material to extract enough DNA…

Police man with backpack of weapons.

Technology July 25, 2023

2023 Innovations in Body Armor and Ballistic Materials

Jake Ganor What are some of the recent developments and advancements in technologies aimed at enhancing ballistic protection? April 2023 marked the launch of Kevlar® EXO™, a product which DuPont heralds as the most groundbreaking aramid fiber innovation in over half a century. Currently, specifics about its performance characteristics are still under wraps, but, in an interview with one of its inventors, it has been disclosed that Kevlar EXO is a chemically modified form of aramid, with improved hydrogen bonding…

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News July 25, 2023

COVID-19 Law Enforcement Impact and Response

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) recently released the new report, “Collaborative Reform Initiative Technical Assistance Center (CRI-TAC): COVID-19 Law Enforcement Impact and Response.” The COVID-19 public health emergency drastically affected law enforcement. The functions of law enforcement required in-person work and community interaction, and law enforcement agencies were challenged to maintain operational levels of service while keeping officers, employees and community members safe. The COPS Office CRI-TAC monitored law enforcement pandemic response from March 2020 through…

Equipment & Apparel July 19, 2023

Ballistic Armor Update: 2023

P&SN Staff The 30th Annual Report on the Latest Advances in Ballistic Armor Technology and Design Although major technological advancements and groundbreaking product developments are infrequent across industries, incremental improvements in existing product lines and the introduction of new products with innovative features occur annually. The ballistic protection industry is no exception to this pattern, as the past 12 months has witnessed numerous minor modifications which hold the potential to enhance the design and effectiveness of ballistic armor. To follow…

French fries

Busted July 13, 2023

BUSTED! Real Stories of Genuine Absurdity July/August 2023

James L. McClinton Would you like fries with that?… A Canadian man recently opened “The Drugs Store,” a mobile shop, in Vancouver. The man, who sold heroin, meth, cocaine, and ecstasy, was arrested for drug trafficking less than 24 hours after launching the business. He said he wanted to give people a safe supply of drugs which have been tested to ensure they didn’t contain fentanyl. Police said they started gathering evidence “after the suspect started selling cocaine, crack, methamphetamine,…

Three police officers wearing body armor.

Equipment & Apparel July 11, 2023

Best Body Armor Practices

Matt Craig Law enforcement is a recognizably dangerous profession, with a fatality rate five times higher than the average US worker.  To help mitigate these occupational risks, most law enforcement agencies have mandatory policies in place for wearing personal protective equipment, such as soft armor vests, hard armor plates and ballistic helmets. The use of body armor has saved the lives of more than 3,000 officers in the last three decades, according to the National Institute of Justice. If officers…

Black and white photo of female officer using an old computer.

....and nothing but the truth July 10, 2023

…AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH July/August 2023

Ramesh Nyberg The Criminal Justice Revolution – Were You There? Perhaps the more appropriate title for this column should be, “Will You Be There?” because there is sure to be another one. The revolution I’m talking about occurred in the mid to late 1980s and is marked by sudden growth in the fields of forensics and computer technology. I’m lucky enough to have worked in law enforcement before this explosion and the reason I want to write about it in…

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News June 14, 2023

Tools for States to Address Crime

Published by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center, these tools help provide state leaders with a plan to advance safety and justice. To equip state leaders, the CSG Justice Center has analyzed the most recent 50-state data on crime, arrests, and prison populations and has developed a list of ten ways states can lower crime.  View these tools.

Weaponry June 13, 2023

Why Your Shoulder Weapon Needs a Light

Mike Boyle The concept of mounting a light to a firearm is nothing new and this practice has been around since World War I. However, lights which were designed for pistols may not work as well when attached to patrol rifles. In the 1960s, High Standard marketed the Model 10 shotgun to law enforcement agencies, a self-loading bullpup design which came complete with an integral light. Fast-forward 30 years and there was considerable interest from the police community on tactical…

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News June 13, 2023

Understanding How GPT Is Changing Law Enforcement

Published by Europol, this report analyzes a number of workshops held by subject matter experts on the positive and negative potential of ChatGPT. The report emphasizes that law enforcement must be prepared for the negative impacts of this artificial intelligence system. Although OpenAI has included many safeguards on ChatGPT to prevent malicious use, they can be easily bypassed through prompt engineering. An unprecedented amount of available data is used by criminals to learn about topics such as potential crime areas,…