Computers in Government, Law Enforcement, and the Military

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Chapter 2

• Computers in Government, Law Enforcement,
  and the Military

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Introduction

• Computers and the Government
• Electoral process, postal services, census, and
  taxes
• Computers in Law Enforcement
• Evidence and criminal record databases, traffic
  violations, stolen vehicles, missing children,
  wireless 911
• Computers and Homeland Security
• Tracking visitors, surveillance, crisis
  management
• Computers in the Military
• UAVs, PackBots, smart bombs, tracking troop
  movement, computer simulations

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Computers and the Government

• Streamline office functions
• Make information publicly available
• Handle processing of applications and forms
• Analyze and store data and statistics
• Manage budgets and payrolls

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Governmental Uses of Computers
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The Election Process

• Campaign polling
• Often done electronically
• Results are analyzed using software applications
• Demographic groups are specifically targeted
• Voters and candidates can research online
• Candidates Web site
• Voting records
• Campaign finance databases
• News sources

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Computerized voting systems
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Direct Recording Electronic machines
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United States Postal Service

• Uses an optical character recognition (OCR)
  system
• Translates characters into digital images
• Looks up addresses in a database
• Applies a POSTNET bar code
• Routes mail using a bar code sorter
• Provides customer service and products on its Web
  site
• Calculate shipping costs, buy stamps, hold and
  forward mail, change address

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Census Bureau

• Optical mark recognition system scans data
• Computers tabulate data
• Handheld computers are envisioned for the next
  census
• Will store contact information for people who
  have not filled out census forms
• Will have the ability to input data
  electronically
• Census statistics are available to the public
  online

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Internal Revenue Service

• Tax preparation software or a tax preparation Web
  site can guide taxpayers through the process of
  filing taxes
• Analyzes the form for errors and missed
  deductions
• Forms may be mailed or submitted electronically
  through the IRS e-File system
• Refunds may be given via direct deposit
• IRS Web site provides comprehensive information
• Recent tax news for specific demographic groups
• Forms for downloading
• Tracking of refunds

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Tax Preparation Software
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Computers In Law Enforcement

• Officers today usually carry a PDA to
• Write tickets
• Fill out accident reports
• Complete routine police work
• Scan driver license bar codes
• Download criminal and driving records from
  databases with the driver license bar code
• Many squad cars come equipped with a laptop
• Allows information retrieval from headquarters
  while on the road

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Tracking Evidence

• Police enter documentation about evidence into a
  handheld computer
• Wirelessly transmits the information to an
  evidence database
• Prints out a bar code sticker that is placed on
  the physical evidence
• DNA evidence is stored in the CODIS (Combined DNA
  Index System) database
• Forensic and offender indexes
• Fingerprint evidence is stored in the AFIS
  (Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification
  System) database
• Fingerprint images are scanned electronically

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Storing Criminal Records

• NCIC (National Crime Information Center)
• FBI database of criminal justice information
• Officers check subjects previous record after
  arrest
• NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check
  System)
• FBI system to help gun dealers perform background
  checks on potential buyers
• Dealer calls the Bureau of Identification to run
  a query on several databases
• Databases of violent sexual offenders
• Relevant information often made public online

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Online Criminal Database
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Enforcing Traffic Laws

• Red-light systems use computer technology to
  catch drivers who run red lights
• Cameras are positioned at intersection corners
• A sensor loop triggers the computer if a car
  moves over a certain speed
• The computer instructs digital cameras to take
  photos
• The computer adds the time, location, etc. to
  photos
• A citation is sent to the offender
• Traffic violation fines may often be accessed and
  paid online

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Online Payment of Traffic Violations
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Tracking Stolen Vehicles

• LoJack is a stolen vehicle recovery system
• A wireless radio-frequency transmitter is placed
  in the car
• The vehicle identification number of a stolen
  vehicle is checked against the NCIC
• A signal is sent to the device
• The device sends a homing signal back to a
  tracking computer with a map
• Key pass theft system
• Uses a motion sensor and uniquely coded key pass
  to detect unauthorized motion of a vehicle

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Finding Missing Children

• Amber Alert system
• Immediately notifies public for help in
  recovering missing children
• Uses EAS (Emergency Alert System) technology
• EAS broadcasts alert on radio and television
• Alerts can be displayed on dynamic message signs
  on highways
• NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Exploited
  Children) provides alerts via e-mail, mobile
  phone, pager, or AOL Instant Messenger

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Providing Wireless 911

• Enhanced 911 (E-911) displays phone number and
  address information on operators computer
• The ANI (automatic number identifier) and ALI
  (automatic location identifier) databases provide
  the information
• ANI and ALI does not work with cell phones
• FCC requires that all cell phone providers equip
  phones with GPS (global positioning system)
  receivers
• GPS receiver receives signals from GPS satellite
• Computer links this information to the ALI
  database

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VeriChip

• Implantable microchip that stores personal
  information
• Useful for tracking people with illnesses or in
  danger
• Raises privacy and legal issues

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Computers and Homeland Security

• The U.S. VISIT system is being implemented to
  identify fake documents
• U.S. VISIT (Visitor and Immigrant Status
  Indication) is a database of biometric
  identifiers
• Foreign students must provide personal
  information to the SEVIS system
• SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visa Information
  Service) is an Internet-based database to verify
  enrollment
• Some criticism due to lack of privacy and
  technological errors

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Homeland Security, cont.

• Surveillance using computer vision systems
• U.S.-Canadian border uses digital camera at ports
  of entry to detect unusual movements
• Software uses artificial intelligence to analyze
  data from cameras
• Alerts are sent electronically
• Managing crises through collaboration
• Web-based collaboration systems help track and
  manage events during a crisis
• Information can be shared and viewed in real-time
  by authorized users

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Real-time Computerized Incidence Maps
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Computers in the Military

• The military is constantly working to improve
  technologies for equipment and systems
• Wars and conflicts have historically brought new
  products into commercial use by citizens
• Recent trends use advanced computer technology
• GPS (global positioning system) technology for
  navigation and weapons
• Rugged laptops with wireless technologies for
  troop communication
• Computer simulations for training

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Deploying Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

• Used to gather intelligence in crowded areas
• Day or nighttime surveillance
• Lightweight, remote-controlled drones
• GPS for determining location
• Chemical-agent detector
• Color or night vision miniature camera
• Relays live images to video recorder or ground
  receiver
• May be used by police, oil companies, or news
  organizations in the future

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Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
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Using Remote-Controlled Robots

• Used in small or hazardous locations
• React to their environment through detectors
• Cameras
• Microphones
• Sonar and infrared sensors
• Laser scanners
• Radio antenna and network hub
• New robots are being developed to steer vehicles
  without human help
• Used to deliver humanitarian aid or retrieve
  troops

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PackBot
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Utilizing Precision-Guided Bombs

• Smart bombs are guided to their targets using
  satellite-guidance capability
• Intended to maximize damage to the target and
  minimize civilian casualties and collateral
  damage
• Uses GPS to pinpoint location
• Dependent on human intelligence
• Mapping of location and entering coordinates
• Technology may be used in airplanes and cars in
  the future

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Smart bomb
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Tracking Troop Movement

• GPS is used to track troop movement
• Helps troops accurately determine their location
  and the enemys position
• Coordinates actions of different units on the
  ground, in the air, or at sea
• Provides better rescue and response
• Used to drop cargo packages from the air
• GPS jamming systems are being developed to reduce
  effectiveness of enemy GPS guidance systems

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Using Computer Simulation for Training

• Live training with military equipment is
  expensive and dangerous
• Computer simulations can provide training without
  the associated risks and costs
• Computer simulations use computers and software
  to create battle scenarios
• One computer simulates each military vehicle
• Networked computers simulate an entire battle
• Multiple repetitions can provide practice,
  feedback, and analysis
• Dependent on expert assumptions and algorithms

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Conclusion

• Uses of computers and technology in
• Government
• Electoral process, USPS, Census Bureau, IRS
• Law Enforcement
• Evidence and criminal record databases
• Traffic laws, missing children, wireless911 calls
  
• Homeland Security
• Crisis management, surveillance of borders
• Military
• UAVs, remote-controlled robots, smart bombs,
  computer simulations