SpotCrime - The Public's Crime Map

Fired cops, police advisory committee, police community relations, traffic stops clogging courts, police discipline records, National Crime Victimization Survey, stranger danger and violent crime, reducing gun crime, stolen guns, rap music used as evidence to convict, AI tool in criminal cases faces legal challenges, AI cameras, drones respond to 911 calls, police transparency in Pittsburgh, police data transparency, dashboards for criminal justice, and more... POLICE CONDUCT The Police Department for Fired Cops  (Illinois Answers Project) New police advisory committee formed after changes from state law  (Fox13Memphis) Using basketball to improve police-community relations and lower gun violence  (The Philadelphia Inquirer) In Memphis, Minor Traffic Stops are Clogging Courts and Draining Resources  (Vera.org) Yonkers PD must hand over police discipline records to civil liberties group, judge rules  (AOL) CRIME RATE National Crime Victimization Survey: Prevalenc...

Media coverage of gun violence, can crime be predicted with AI and machine learning, lack of facial recognition laws, SpotCrime's FOIA testimony, open data to transform and engage communities, and more... POLICE CONDUCT Beyond crime rates and community surveys: a new approach to police accountability and performance measurement  (Crime Science Journal) IRS Claims to Have Identified “Dozens” of New Crypto Criminals  (Inside Bitcoins) Detailed look into Winston-Salem Police Department’s need for gunfire detection system  (MyFox8) Can We Trust the FBI's Crime Estimation Procedures?  (Academia.edu) Lessons to learn from a school resource officer  (PressHerald) Portland police chief walks out of meeting as school board asks for more time on body camera issue  (PressHerald) CRIME RATE Bias, Sensationalism Distort Media Coverage of Gun Violence, Conference Told  (TheCrimeReport) Chicago gun violence, drug cartel mayhem fueled by straw purcha...

We have a lot to learn about machine learning and AI in policing, Boeing criminal probe, policing for profit, catholic church scandal in Illinois, what a cleared homicide means, and more... POLICE CONDUCT Nowata County sheriff, undersheriff, deputies resign over jail controversy  (KTUL) The Supreme Court Resuscitates the Eighth Amendment The justices strike a blow against policing for profit.  (The Atlantic) SC sheriffs fly first class, bully employees and line their pockets with taxpayer money  (The Post and Courier) Former DEA official now working for OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma  (NBC News) FBI assisting in criminal probe into how Boeing's 737 Max planes were certified to fly  (CBS News) Gov. Cuomo Supports Banning Sex Offenders From Subway. The ban would apply to repeat offenders — anyone who has been convicted of subway sex crimes twice.  (CBS New York) Court: Middle Finger Protected by the Constitution  (NYTimes) CRIME RATE But...

Baltimore police department loses officers while facing corruption woes, mental health programs helps police, AI predicting crime debate continues, how transparent is your government, and more... POLICE CONDUCT Baltimore Mayor Pugh opposes state commission to investigate police corruption (Baltimore Sun) see also: Baltimore police had net gain of 4 officers in 2017, but hundreds lost in recent years, according to data (Baltimore Sun) Commish: Boston police bodycam pilot mostly successful (Boston Herald) Lincoln police study finds mental health referral program reduces crisis calls  (Journal Star) Assessing police use of force data with the help of the Police Foundation  (Sunlight Foundation) Why Social Media Plays an Important Role in Law Enforcement  (InPublicSafety.com) CRIME RATE Proposed bill aims to change how DUIs are reported across U.S.  (WMC) U.S. attorney meeting with community partners for crime reduction project  (GainesvilleTimes....

Crime is up...or down, the efficiency of AI and data in policing, the problem with stolen guns, transparency an antidote to fake news, plea bargains and bail a problem with the justice system, and more... POLICE CONDUCT Data shows Utah is ‘headed in the right direction’ with criminal justice reforms, report says (Salt Lake Tribune) St. Louis Police Continue to Cite Blacks for Marijuana Possession at a High Rate (Riverfronttimes.com) See also: Florida Police Issue Hundreds of Bad Pedestrian Tickets Every Year Because They Don’t Seem to Know the Law (ProPublica) Local law enforcement authorities support DACA in federal court (Houston Chronicle) In Alabama, an official’s use of public funds and behavior toward critics have raised questions about the broad powers of American sheriffs. (NYTimes) CRIME RATE Year-End Analysis: Crime and Murder Down in 2017 (BrennanCenter.org) See also: U.S. Crime Rate is Stable, Victimization Survey Says (TheCrimeReport.org) and also: ...

WHAT IS AI AND MACHINE LEARNING? Artificial intelligence and machine learning are hot topic terms that are sometimes used interchangeably. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. Machine learning is the field of computer science and application of AI that gives computers the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed through access to data.  Google’s DeepMind lab project ‘AlphaZero’ recently learned chess in four hours. It’s being labeled a ‘superhuman performance’ because not only did AlphaZero learn chess, it absorbed all data on the entire history of chess and then figured out how to beat anyone or anything in the game in one-sixth of a day. This type of technological advancement not only changes the way chess will be played, but it creates endless possibilities for technology that can be applied to other aspects of everyday human life. THE BIG DA...

Over policing in Durham, precision policing, blockchain and machine learning is future of crim-tech, Baylor crime reporting investigation, Google Docs phishing scam, police shootings, Harris County cash bail system unconstitutional, and more... POLICE CONDUCT Watch: Norfolk Police dance the night away at ‘Cops and Curls’ event (WTKR) Protesters seek end to 'over-policing' in Durham as chief delivers crime report (WRAL) What is Precision Policing? (SpotCrime) Officers Won’t Be Charged in Black Man’s Shooting Death in Louisiana (NYTimes) Balch Springs police fire Officer Roy Oliver, who fatally shot Jordan Edwards with rifle (Dallasnews.com) Ex-Officer Who Shot Walter Scott Pleads Guilty in Charleston (NYTimes) Law Enforcement Agencies' Requests for Facebook Data Continue to Rise (GovTech) CRIME RATE Protesters throw Pepsi cans at police during May Day demonstrations (TheGuardian.com) Half of Immigrants Arrested in ICE Raids Had Traffic ...

What is Crim-Tech? You may be familiar with the term fin-tech. It stands for ‘financial technology’ and is defined as computer programs and other technology used to support or enable banking and financial services. It includes services as simple as online banking and PayPal to algorithms that attempt to predict the stock market. Although technology in policing isn’t a new idea, we have begun to see an influx in the amount of technology utilized by police agencies worldwide. Because of this, we’ve decided to coin the term ‘crim-tech’.  Crim-tech stands for ‘criminal technology’ and is defined as any computer program or other technology used to support or enable policing strategies. Examples of Crim-Tech Believe it or not, crim-tech has been around at police agencies for decades and is apparent in all aspects of policing, from the initial 911 call to the time someone is arrested. Walkie talkies appeared on the force after WWII. The 911 emergency calling system came a...