Problems, Challenges, and the Future of Policing in America

Law enforcement agencies hold significant responsibilities in ensuring that all people are well-protected. Although best practices traditionally drove their strategies and operations, police officers must obtain new technological skills and know-how to use electronic devices in their daily activities effectively. Law enforcers should respond and relate well to the dynamic and diverse community to improve policing in the United States of America (USA). When it comes to hate crimes and domestic terrorism, they should investigate and address all associated issues. In particular, the USA's future requires law enforcers to learn how to use technology and apply it in solving various problems and challenges that might arise in the highly dynamic technological environment.

Answer 1

Best Practices Used by Law Enforcement Agencies to Ensure that Officers are Trained in All Aspects of Understanding and Manipulating Technology and Electronic Devices

For many decades, policing and technology have always been interconnected. For example, police officers started using two-way radios, automobiles, and telephones a long time ago. Currently, technology is advancing rapidly, and it can be seen via the propagation of wireless and mobile technology, advanced analytics, audio and visual technologies, artificial intelligence, and high-powered computing (Strom, 2017). Law enforcement agencies have implemented various technological advancements to improve the outcome and efficiency of crime eradication activities. One of the law enforcement agencies' practices through funding from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is researching the new technologies that can help police officers perform their duties effectively and efficiently. For example, proper analysis is done to determine, select, and implement new technology to solve numerous policing problems. The use of technological devices in policing is expected to increase in the future. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies are significantly involved in searching for the proper technologies and electronic devices for use by police officers. For example, 96% of law enforcement agencies in the USA have implemented over one of the eighteen most commonly used technologies in their line duty, such as social media (68%), car cameras (70%), and information-sharing platforms (68%) (Strom, 2017). As a result, the implementation of technology in policing is crucial in helping police officers to fight against crime. 

Police officers are now working alongside technology experts to understand how the electronic devices they use are crucial in collecting relevant data that can be used to address crime. Many law enforcement agencies have acquired and are using body-worn cameras to see how police officers handle various situations, such as arresting criminals, at the community level. Th...