The Benefits of Police Field Mobile Computing Realized by Non-Patrol Sections of a Police Department

Abstract

This research examines the effectives of field mobile computing in law enforcement through the theory of 'Task-Technology Fit'. Field mobile computing has been at the forefront of police technology implementations throughout the United States for the past several years. This study measures how these systems benefit investigators, administrators and records personnel. It also measures the effectiveness of field mobile computing as implemented in a medium-sized south-west police department. We found statistical support indicating that inquiries to local, state and national criminal information databases increased with the implementation of mobile computing. Administrators, detectives and records personnel all experienced statistically significant improvements in the tasks they performed, directly resulting from the implementation of mobile computing.

Understanding the Limits of Technology’s Impact on Police Effectiveness

“…However, research also shows that technology can reduce agency efficiency and produce unintended and negative consequences (Chan, Brereton, Legosz, & Doran, 2001; Colton, 1980). Case studies have provided uncertain results as to whether new information and other technologies (such as license plate readers, surveillance cameras, and forensics technologies) improve case clearances or reduce crime, even though they may improve other productivity measures (see, e.g., Danziger & Kraemer, 1985; Ioimo & Aronson, 2003; Koper, Taylor, & Woods, 2013; La Vigne, Lowry, Markman, & Dwyer, 2011; Lum, Hibdon, Cave, Koper, & Merola, 2011; Nunn, 1993, 1994; Roman Reid, Reid, et al, 2008; Zaworski, 2004).…”

“…Hence, the potential benefits of technological innovations may not be realized if, due to organizational and technological frames, officers throughout the organization—including line-level personnel—do not fully capitalize on the aspects of technology that enable them to do things that could make them more effective (i.e., proactive, preventive, targeted, or problem-oriented policing). Indeed, this may help to explain why case studies have yielded mixed findings with respect to the effects of IT on proactive policing, community policing, and problem solving (Agrawal et al., 2003; Brown, 2001; Brown & Brudney, 2004; Chan et al., 2001; Colvin, 2001; Ioimo & Aronson, 2003, 2004; Nunn, 2001; Nunn & Quinet, 2002).…”

The Impacts of Large-Scale License Plate Reader Deployment on Criminal Investigations

“…As a final point, this study adds to a limited body of literature examining whether criminal investigations, and clearance rates in particular, have been improved by advances in a variety of technologies including information technologies (e.g., Brown, 2015; Danziger & Kraemer, 1985; Garicano & Heaton, 2010; Hekim, Gul, & Akcam, 2013; Ioimo & Aronson, 2003; Koper, Lum, Willis, Woods, & Hibdon, 2015, pp. 183–190, 210–233; Nunn, 1993; Zaworski, 2004), closed-circuit television (Ashby, 2017; Piza, Caplan, Kennedy, & Gilchrist, 2015); gunshot detection technology (Mazerolle, Watkins, Rogan, & Frank, 1999), and forensics (Dunsmuir, Tran, & Weatherburn, 2008; Peterson, Sommers, Baskin, & Johnson, 2010; Roman et al., 2008).…”

Knowing More, But Accomplishing What? Developing Approaches to Measure the Effects of Information-Sharing on Criminal Justice Outcomes

“…[but did] not necessarily help determine how effectively a system meets law enforcement needs" (Noblis, 2007b, p. 3-4). Survey data collected during that effort suggested that some agencies did collect some data Ioimo and Aronson (2003) showed case clearance effects and increases in queries to state and federal databases as a result of the implementation of mobile computing in a law enforcement department. Wellford and Cronin (1999) found that database searches related to weapons and suspects in homicide cases were related to the probability of case closure.…”