Criminal investigation is the process of legally gathering evidence of an unlawful act that has been committed or is being committed and is a topic of intense study for practitioners and academics alike, since long.

Off late, many traditional crimes are being aided and abetted by the use of technology, and offences previously unheard of have surfaced because of the incredible capabilities of our advanced information systems.

Importance of using technology in criminal justice 

In today’s contemporary society, the intertwining of crime prevention and technology has become more pronounced, especially in crime prevention and active response to criminal activities.

From adoption of surveillance technologies to utilization of forensic science advancements, digitalization has proved to play a pivotal role in changing the character of crimes, terror and other threats.

This article will further illustrate the different types of technology that are being currently used not only to nab criminals, but to save human lives and enhance public safety as well.

A degree in forensic science should be the first step

It is quite evident that going forward technology will play a critical role in all areas of the criminal investigation field. Hence professionals who can harness the full potential of this exciting career option will be better equipped to tackle crime resolution.

The online Chemistry, MS-forensic science program, offered by leading institutions, provides opportunities to those passionate about learning about forensics for gaining a better understanding of how science and technology can be leveraged to solve acts of misdemeanour.

Moreover, with three different courses of forensic analysis, forensic professional and forensic biochemistry on offer, one can focus on any one of these areas to advance within this highly interdisciplinary science in as little as two years.

DNA testing and analysis 

DNA at the crime scene is considered as an accurate form of biological evidence which can link a suspect to the crime scene and the criminal activity. In some cases, DNA also helps to exonerate those who have been inadvertently convicted of crimes.

This method of testing which has been in active use since the past few decades is now being regularly used in a range of criminal investigations and can be integrated in DNA analysis to expedite the investigation and reduce the potential for human error.

Surveillance and monitoring  

Surveillance involves close observation for gathering evidence to support investigation and has since long been a critical component of the policing system.

With rapid advancement in recent years, automatic licence plate readers, automatic face recognition and even drones are being regularly incorporated to keep officers safe and disseminate information to the public on the day to day criminal investigation process.

Data mapping 

Already in use in weather and climate forecasting for many years, data mapping is now being utilized by criminal justice officers for investigation.

It aids federal agencies to get a geographical image of the types of crime and volume being committed in a particular area.

Furthermore, data mapping can help in the study of trends and trace their locations to identify criminals and specific problems faced by a community and plan accordingly to prevent any illegal activity.

Smartphone technology 

Smartphones also are an important tool that aids crime investigation as they store a trail of emails, text messages and GPS logs that can be used by law enforcers as evidence to solve crimes.

Also the abundant data provided by smartphones can be analysed to check any wrongdoing, track criminals and be used as solid evidence in any court of law. Digital footprints to locate the whereabouts of suspects is also an important tool of cell phone technology.

Social Media

Social media has already made an impact on almost every industry and crime investigation is no exception.The police department and other federal agencies use social media to connect with different communities and receive important feedback in helping solving and preventing crime.

Investigators are able to collect information from witnesses and victims promptly and the feed is utilized by law officers to trace the pattern of the illegal activity and solve the crime. During urgent gatherings, social media can also serve as an “ear to the ground” tool.

Predictive policing

As newer systems evolve, they generate a vast amount of data which proves to be a challenge when it comes to effectively analysing them in real-time decision making.

Police needs to draw on advanced algorithms to forecast impending criminal activity by using data from historical crime records to find out which individuals are more likely to commit or be a victim of a criminal act. They can further help in employing law enforcement officials at the right place.

Enhanced body cams

Cams worn on the body provide essential information as to how both alleged offenders and officers behave. Advocates are of the opinion that body cams can not only limit the risk of any crime, but strengthen the fairness of policing as well.

Though these cameras are expensive to implement, in the long run the emerging research indicates that they prove to be cost-effective as they drastically reduce time in investigation and also serve as a  tool to indicate agencies where greater training is needed.

Facial recognition software 

This is an advanced form of biometrics which uses artificial intelligence(AI) to match faces and compare them from the images within a vast database. Facial recognition has today become a rapidly viral component of fraud prevention and detection.

Facial recognition systems can also help in comparing faces of individuals with the documents they intend to submit and can help in streamlining a process which is otherwise too time consuming for booking and release of an accused.

In Conclusion 

The future of law enforcement and policing lies in the ability to adapt to new technologies with the active support of the community.

This asks for mutual understanding of the fact that technology promotes efficiency that will allow law officials to do a better job with a commitment from the government to hire adequate personnel to complete this difficult task.