Introduction
Advances in criminal justice technology is one of the most important factors that assists law enforcing agencies as well as service providers to enhance safety and give critical lifesaving assistance to victims of crime. Hence, it is worth noting that embracing modern technology in the cranial justice system is indeed a necessity that may not be overlooked at all costs. Scholars almost unanimously concur that the availability of high-end technology equipment reduces the overall time employed in processing an offenders’ time bearing in mind that it facilitates quicker availability of various details that are needed in a criminal offense and associated law suit. In addition, a well developed technological platform is quite crucial since it provides real time notification about criminals (Kinkade & Leone, 2004). This paper provides an in-depth research analysis of the article entitled preparing for high technology crime: An educational assessment of criminal justice and criminology academic programs by Myers and Myers. The aforementioned article seeks to evaluate the importance of technological improvement in criminal justice with special reference to incorporating this knowledge in the criminology academic programs. This publication further analyzes how modifying the academic curricula will benefit students in investigating complex technology crime.
Methodology
Research purpose
Use of modern and more sophisticated technology in criminal justice is the most effective method of addressing some of the modern and dynamic forms of crime in society. This is mainly due to the fast changing technology and organization of crime and the need to maintain the highest possible levels of social order which is indeed effective for growth and development. Smit, Van-Eijk and Decae (2012) point out that over the last decade, the demand for modern and improved techniques in criminal justice organization and administrations has become part of its major quest as the world is directly threatened by the forces of modern consumerism and globalization. The authors of this research study are quite categorical that this has led to the need for incorporation of this knowledge in the criminal justice curricula for students in this field to enhance their ability and skills in solving crime. It is against this backdrop that the purpose and key objectives of this research study has been drawn.
The research design for the study
The overall research design study for this paper is appropriate and meets the objectives that were set earlier. The research design study which has been adopted in the article to gather data on the need to incorporate criminal justice and technology in undergraduate education is qualitative design. Myers and Myers (2002) have used a multiple survey method administered to one hundred leaders of criminology and criminal justice programs in the United States of America. In the survey, a presentation of the occupational information network (ONET) has been done to survey respondents. The latter was found to be necessary since a representative sample would be needed to carry out the research study. Besides, an eight point scale has been used on survey respondents to determine the element of knowledge required to prosecute, investigate and detect high technology crime. A holistic description has been given to provide adequate information as well as any other necessary details that may be required when addressing aspects such as location, context and survey participants. At this point, it is quite evident that this qualitative study is quite holistic especially in regards to the design used which ensures that all important factors are taken into consideration.
Population and sampling
In the research study to determine the number of students who were exposed to technology in criminal justice; a total of one hundred academic leaders were used as the target population. Myers and Myers (2002) indicate that this population was necessary and of extreme importance for the study since they were well aware of the numerous challenges that technology was posing to society. In addition, they were responsible and professional individuals leading curriculum programs within their respective organizations. This population was a sample that accounted for about 54.5% of the total 28018 sample size of graduates who took part in the study.
Findings and discussions
From the study, it is evident that advances that have been made in technology act as a key factor in facilitating effective resources deployment in the criminal justice units. Therefore, this recent development has called for the need to incorporate technological competences in the entire criminal justice curriculum. Since the onset of the 20th century, technological improvements have led to key changes that seek to effectively match the extended criminal outset. For example, the use of two-way radio system and finger prints technology have been largely employed to create effective counter crime efforts in society. However, findings obtained from the research study indicated that the absence of incorporation on the aforementioned technology in the curriculum among others, may impact on future procedures in handling criminal cases.
It is also arguable that the modern high-tech crime which is also dynamic appears to be moving quite fast ahead of the security agencies’ ability to establish counter systems. It is clear that as law enforcement agencies assimilate new technologies with time, they will demand effective backing in addition to adequate workforce that is well trained on criminal justice technology. If the latter is not well executed, then it is quite definite that the dynamism of the growing crime wave may as well catch up with the ability of crime administrators to effectively deal with the menace. As a matter of fact, it is expected that the number of criminal law suits will definitely increase in future and therefore the much needed speed in processing such offenses. Moreover, findings from the study indicated that there is reduced capacity in training security officers in the field especially in areas of modern technology systems bearing in mind that it requires continuous re-evaluation. This has been found to take more time than it is necessarily. As a result, such delays have been providing thriving ground for proliferation of high-tech crime. This training usually takes time and therefore rendering innovation in the security system less effective Though its is agreeable that the current equipments being used by the US security agencies for training are high tech in nature, there is greater need for innovation and creativity that can be attained when this is incorporated into that criminal justice curriculum.
In addition, the findings also indicated that technological improvement has remained a critical consideration in resource deployment in criminal justice system. While it is necessary to embrace modern technology in criminal justice system, it is worth noting that sufficient resources are needed to execute the same. This may be in form of human resource capability or direct financial needs in acquiring a working system. Willis (2012) indicates that the improvements that have been fostered by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) have culminated to widespread use of computers and information technology software products in the police unit. It is also notable that when information technology is incorporated into the criminal justice curriculum, it will facilitate centralization of criminal justice operations. Other technologies such as concealed weapon detection technology and DNA testing when introduced to the curriculum will culminate to hefty resources being channeled towards criminal justice agencies. According to Gould (2004), this will certainly reduce the seemingly growing levels of crime in modern society.
DNA technology is a modernistic method employed in criminal justice for precise detection of an individual through matching biological genetic information. Findings fro this research study documented that though this technology has been recently developed, its use has increasingly been assimilated in facilitating justice where physical evidence is not enough for judgment to be finalised. Following the critical role played by DNA in the determination of high profile cases, it is increasingly being referred as the most important tool to bring justice in the society. As such, there is need for knowledge on DNA to be included in the curriculum to enhance ability of the justice department in solving biologically related cases.
In their view, Broomhall (1997) and Gould (2004) are quite unanimous that criminal identification has remained a very crucial component in the entire cycle of criminal justice system. Furthermore, gaining knowledge on automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS) presents students as well as criminal justice officers with an effective system of fast detecting a criminal by counterchecking the matches with those electronically stored in the department of justice database. Findings indicated that to further promote a holistic capacity in tracing criminal records, a study on fingerprint identification via technology will aid students in employing special exchange and responses that use matching algorithms.
Concealed weapons detection technology has emerged as one of the most critical parameters in identifying individuals carrying weapons that are hidden under their clothes (Willis, 2012). The research findings noted that knowledge on passive millimeter wave technology will enable criminal justice students and officers to search for weapons though natural emissions without employing physical search. Besides, an understanding on electromagnetic fluxgate magnetometers technology will further aid them in the identification of weapons through radiation reflected back to special detectors and them compares them with legal weapons database in the department of justice.
Recommendations
The authors of the article acknowledge that improvement in technology has been very critical in facilitating effective resources distribution in the criminal justice system. They recommend that knowledge elements in technology be incorporated in the curriculum of criminal justice students. They strongly support the need for better technology application in criminal justice, a factor that requires adequate training in colleges and not in the field while on duty. It is clear that the modern high tech criminal activities are not just a threat to the United States of America alone, but to the whole world. Therefore, there is indisputable need for devising new curriculum which may offer learning programs on how to tackle dynamism in crime through effective application of technology in criminal justice system in addition to maximum cooperation among different law enforcement agencies.
References
Broomhall, B. (1997). Developments in criminal law and criminal justice. Criminal Law Forum, 8(2), 317-334.
Gould, J. B. (2004). Consider the lawyers: Law schools lessons for criminal justice education. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 15(1), 45-60.
Kinkade, P., & Leone, M. C. (2004). Criminal justice education in relation to law school expectation: A failure of confidence. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 15(1), 33-44.
Sena, B. (2006). Criminal justice technology in the 21st century, second edition. Security Management, 50(9), 198-200.
Smit, P., van Eijk, A., & Decae, R. (2012). Trends in the reaction on crime in criminal justice systems in Europe in 1990-2007: A comparison of four European regions. European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research, 18(1), 55.
Willis, J. J. (2012). Bridging the normative gap in graduate criminal justice curricula: Teaching theories of justice. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 23(1), 81.