Interviews and Features
- When Police Stop Policing With Guests Dr. Eric Piza and Nathan T. Connealy
In 2020, there were protests in Seattle, Washington following the death of George Floyd. For a period of 24 days, an area that became known as the Capitol Hill Occupation Protest (CHOP) was treated asContinue reading “When Police Stop Policing With Guests Dr. Eric Piza and Nathan T. Connealy” - Crime Prevention for Social Impact and Social Justice
Crime prevention should reduce harm and promote fairness. A new framework supports early action and community leadership. Real progress takes commitment and a focus on justice. - Northeastern researchers call for greater attention to social impact and social justice in preventing crime
What do preschool and streetlights have in common? According to Northeastern University researchers, both are effective ways to prevent crime, and they don’t require the involvement of the formal justice system. These seemingly unrelated strategies—earlyContinue reading “Northeastern researchers call for greater attention to social impact and social justice in preventing crime” - The Last Show with David Cooper: CCTV Cameras and Crime
Criminology professors Dr. Eric Piza and Dr. Brandon Welsh reveal whether CCTV cameras really deter crime significantly. - Eric Piza named Lipman Family Chair in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice
Eric Piza, a professor of criminology and criminal justice, has been named the new Lipman Family Chair in Northeastern University’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Established in 1999 by Ira Lipman, the founder ofContinue reading “Eric Piza named Lipman Family Chair in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice” - Profs on Cops: Closed-Circuit TV Systems
Most local law enforcement agencies have their own closed-circuit TV systems, aimed at curbing crime and apprehending criminals. According to Eric Piza, Professor of Criminology at Northeastern University, who has studied this in Newark, N.J.Continue reading “Profs on Cops: Closed-Circuit TV Systems” - SVT Nyheter (Swedish): Camera researcher Eric Piza drew full houses in Malmö
Det var fullsatt när amerikanska kameraforskaren Eric Piza bjöds in att föreläsa på Malmö universitet om teknikens möjligheter att säkra tryggheten på allmänna platser. Det var en fullsatt föreläsningssal på Malmö universitet som ville taContinue reading “SVT Nyheter (Swedish): Camera researcher Eric Piza drew full houses in Malmö” - SVT Nyheter (Swedish): American criminologist on Malmö visit skeptical of visitation zones
Drönare som är startklara på taken och visitationszoner är bara ett par exempel på hur polisen försöker modernisera sina metoder i Sverige. Eric Piza, professor i kriminologi på Northeastern University, är skeptisk till metoderna. - Cocktails & Crime Analysis: All About ShotSpotter
Eric Piza discusses his research, finding ShotSpotter does not increase case clearance rates or decrease crime. Tom Chittum, former COO of ATF and current Vice President from SoundThinking, drops by to respond. - Chicago Justice Project: What does the science say about ShotSpotter?
In a first-of-its-kind independent analysis of the effectiveness of ShotSpotter, the science says the technology does not lead to more arrests and convictions for gun crimes and does not reduce these crimes in the areasContinue reading “Chicago Justice Project: What does the science say about ShotSpotter?” - The Conversation: I studied ShotSpotter in Chicago and Kansas City – here’s what people in Detroit and the more than 167 other cities and towns using this technology should know
Like many large cities in the U.S., Detroit’s gun violence rate has fluctuated since the COVID-19 pandemic and the unrest after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. The city’s murder rate increased nearly 20% thatContinue reading “The Conversation: I studied ShotSpotter in Chicago and Kansas City – here’s what people in Detroit and the more than 167 other cities and towns using this technology should know” - NGN: ShotSpotter improves detection and response to gunfire, but doesn’t reduce crime, Northeastern research finds
“Gun violence did not reduce in either (Kansas City or Chicago) following the introduction of ShotSpotter, and shootings were not anymore likely to be solved in either city,” Northeastern professor Eric Piza says. ShotSpotter gunfireContinue reading “NGN: ShotSpotter improves detection and response to gunfire, but doesn’t reduce crime, Northeastern research finds” - Government Technology: Study- ShotSpotter Doesn’t Reduce Crime or Shootings
ShotSpotter software might help police get to shootings faster and collect more evidence, but a new study suggests that it doesn’t help reduce crime or shootings, although very few jurisdictions even try to measure itsContinue reading “Government Technology: Study- ShotSpotter Doesn’t Reduce Crime or Shootings” - SVT Nyheter (Swedish): American Scientist says Victims of Gun Violence Did Not Decrease BEcause of ShotSpotter
Tekniken med skottmikrofoner finns sedan tidigare i USA – men det har ifrågasatts hur väl den fungerar trots att larmen når polisen i genomsnitt 1,5 minuter tidigare. – Offren för vapenvåld minskade inte i varkenContinue reading “SVT Nyheter (Swedish): American Scientist says Victims of Gun Violence Did Not Decrease BEcause of ShotSpotter” - Vital City: Learning about ShotSpotter — and Gun Violence — from Chicago
Research shows the technology doesn’t reduce shootings or increase clearance rates, but it may have other benefits. On February 13, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced that the city’s ShotSpotter gunshot detection system would be discontinued, withContinue reading “Vital City: Learning about ShotSpotter — and Gun Violence — from Chicago” - Springer Nature: Breaking barriers: Dr. Eric L. Piza’s evolution from an undergrad researcher to open access crusader in crime analysis and policing
As an undergraduate at Rutgers University, Dr. Eric L. Piza stumbled upon an opportunity that would shape his career trajectory: a flier for research assistant positions at the Police Institute, under the guidance of ProfessorContinue reading “Springer Nature: Breaking barriers: Dr. Eric L. Piza’s evolution from an undergrad researcher to open access crusader in crime analysis and policing” - KMBC News 9: New Study Questions Effectiveness of Gunfire Detection System Used by KCPD
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —A newly released study found that the gunfire detection system the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department has been using since 2012 hasn’t reduced any violent crime categories. The study published in theContinue reading “KMBC News 9: New Study Questions Effectiveness of Gunfire Detection System Used by KCPD” - NPR Kansas City: ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection System Fails to Reduce Violent Crime in Kansas City, Study Says
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners recently approved spending $200,000 for another year of ShotSpotter, a surveillance technology, despite a new study that says it doesn’t achieve the city’s public safety goals.An audio surveillanceContinue reading “NPR Kansas City: ShotSpotter Gunshot Detection System Fails to Reduce Violent Crime in Kansas City, Study Says” - Police1: Dr. Eric Piza on using bodycam video to determine use of force predictors
“We did find that verbal antagonism was actually associated with a lower likelihood of force occurring during a police-civilian interaction.” While the majority of police-civilian interactions resolve peacefully, a small number of situations end withContinue reading “Police1: Dr. Eric Piza on using bodycam video to determine use of force predictors” - NGN: Police encounters get moment-by-moment analysis in new studyOn Dec. 25, 2019, a New Haven, Connecticut, police officer approached a man whose car was parked illegally, and told him to go sit on the sidewalk. Within just a few minutes, the situation hadContinue reading “NGN: Police encounters get moment-by-moment analysis in new study”
Expert Commentary
- Pokémon cards bring business — and thieves
When Ron Zeida woke up in the middle of the night to a barrage of texts, he knew something was wrong. On Dec. 1, a burglar broke into his Vanguard Comics store in Barnstable andContinue reading “Pokémon cards bring business — and thieves” - Anxiety Over Pace of Brown University Shooting Investigation Mounts As Search For Killer ContinuesIn a city where police can tap live feeds of hundreds of surveillance cameras, the identity of the Brown University campus shooter remained unknown to the public Monday evening as the community mourned the twoContinue reading “Anxiety Over Pace of Brown University Shooting Investigation Mounts As Search For Killer Continues”
- Research Mirrors Cleveland Reports that ShotSpotter Helps Police Respond To Gunshots But Doesn’t Reduce Crime
Growing national research shows that the gunshot detection system used in Cleveland helps police respond to shootings but does little to reduce crime or improve case outcomes. A new report by Cleveland State University, releasedContinue reading “Research Mirrors Cleveland Reports that ShotSpotter Helps Police Respond To Gunshots But Doesn’t Reduce Crime” - Is ShotSpotter Effective? Gunshot-detection technology can help police departments if they use it properly.
Facial recognition. Drones. Police have adopted a range of new technologies in recent years to help prevent and respond to crime. Yet some of the most intense controversies still swirl around a product that’s beenContinue reading “Is ShotSpotter Effective? Gunshot-detection technology can help police departments if they use it properly.” - Judge orders agents in Chicago area to wear bodycams, adding she’s “startled” over violent clashes
A federal judge in Chicago has ordered immigration agents in Chicago to wear body cameras on duty, after raising concerns about agents’ use of tear gas against protesters. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis said her orderContinue reading “Judge orders agents in Chicago area to wear bodycams, adding she’s “startled” over violent clashes” - President Trump spotlights crime in US cities: Here’s what the data shows
President Donald Trump has cast a spotlight on crime in several cities across the United States. Washington, D.C., was the first target when, in early August, Trump deployed National Guard troops to crack down onContinue reading “President Trump spotlights crime in US cities: Here’s what the data shows” - As Trump Deploys Troops To D.C., Research Shows Crime Is Already At Historic Lows
As National Guard troops from Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, and other states flood into Washington, D.C. under the Trump administration’s “crime crackdown,” one thing is missing: a crisis. In fact, crime in the nation’s capital isContinue reading “As Trump Deploys Troops To D.C., Research Shows Crime Is Already At Historic Lows” - Will Sacramento keep controversial gunshot-detection tech? Budget may be an issue
As Sacramento grapples with its multimillion-dollar structural deficit, officials are considering whether to commit money to a controversial gunfire-detection technology. For more than a decade, Sacramento has contracted and spent millions on ShotSpotter — aContinue reading “Will Sacramento keep controversial gunshot-detection tech? Budget may be an issue” - Cleveland is spending millions on a controversial gunshot detection system. Is it making us safer?Three years ago, the city of Cleveland agreed to quadruple the size of a controversial gunshot detection tool in the hopes of improving public safety. But after spending $2.8 million on it, emerging evidence suggestsContinue reading “Cleveland is spending millions on a controversial gunshot detection system. Is it making us safer?”
- Honolulu Wants To Put More Cameras In Public Parks To Reduce Crime
Many more of Honolulu’s parks would be subject to video surveillance under a one-year pilot program recently approved by the City Council. But it’s unclear when the rollout will begin because the city still needs toContinue reading “Honolulu Wants To Put More Cameras In Public Parks To Reduce Crime” - ‘More of a Band-Aid’: US cities canceling ShotSpotter due to cost, efficacy questions
COLUMBUS, Ohio — As U.S. cities grapple with gun violence, city leaders and law enforcement agencies have approached the issue in a myriad of ways, including investing in community-based organizations and nonprofits that focus on violenceContinue reading “‘More of a Band-Aid’: US cities canceling ShotSpotter due to cost, efficacy questions” - Advanced Security Cameras Give Cities New Ways to Deter Vandalism and Theft
The prank sounds harmless enough: High school students wait until dark, pour soap into a public fountain and laugh as it fills up with bubbles. But when it happened 17 times in one year —Continue reading “Advanced Security Cameras Give Cities New Ways to Deter Vandalism and Theft” - As ShotSpotter rolls out in Tacoma, feelings over gunshot detection technology remain mixed
In an effort to curb gun crime, Tacoma announced last year that it was turning to a tool called ShotSpotter. ShotSpotter is a form of Gun Detection Technology (GDT), which uses a series of acousticContinue reading “As ShotSpotter rolls out in Tacoma, feelings over gunshot detection technology remain mixed” - Dozens of Cities Are Paying for Gunshot Detection Tech They May Not Need
A new analysis by The Trace identified cities across the country that are using ShotSpotter despite averaging fewer than one shooting a month in which someone was killed or injured. - AI gunshot detection technology at UMD raises concerns about false positives, policing
UMPD has spent more than $135,000 on AI gunshot detection with payments spanning 2017 to 2023, despite concerns about the technology’s accuracy, according to records obtained by The Diamondback. University of Maryland Police use ShotSpotterContinue reading “AI gunshot detection technology at UMD raises concerns about false positives, policing” - Commonwealth Beacon: ShotSpotter Honchos Fire Back
The company that sells ShotSpotter, the acoustic gunshot detection technology that has come under attack recently from everyone from Boston city councilors to the state’s two US senators and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, is firing back.Continue reading “Commonwealth Beacon: ShotSpotter Honchos Fire Back” - Undark: In Some Cities Second Thoughts About Gunshot Detection Sensors
Recent studies on technology that alerts police to gunfire have found it has little impact on shootings or prosecutions. More than seven years ago, when the city of Chicago began its broad deployment of acoustic technologyContinue reading “Undark: In Some Cities Second Thoughts About Gunshot Detection Sensors” - Wired: The Mystery of AI Gunshot-Detection Accuracy Is Finally Unraveling
How accurate are gunshot detection systems, really? For years, it’s been a secret, but new reports from San Jose and NYC show these systems have operated well below their advertised accuracy rates. Liz González’s neighborhoodContinue reading “Wired: The Mystery of AI Gunshot-Detection Accuracy Is Finally Unraveling” - Boston Globe: Calling 911 in Cambridge? Soon, the city may send social workers instead of police.
CAMBRIDGE — It took less than a minute for the crew of five social workers in matching mint-green T-shirts to find people who could use some help. Right outside the door to their Central SquareContinue reading “Boston Globe: Calling 911 in Cambridge? Soon, the city may send social workers instead of police.” - GBH 89.7 Boston Public Radio: 13 Mass. Municipalities and 1 University Use ShotSpotter. Critics wonder: Is It Worth It?
Boston police on patrol earlier this month say they heard “several loud bangs,” confirmed by a gunfire locator service called ShotSpotter, leading them to arrests of a Roxbury man on firearm charges. In New Bedford,Continue reading “GBH 89.7 Boston Public Radio: 13 Mass. Municipalities and 1 University Use ShotSpotter. Critics wonder: Is It Worth It?” - Commonwealth Beacon: ShotSpotter in the Cross Hairs
GUNSHOTS RING OUT in a densely populated city neighborhood. Within seconds, based on data from an array of sound sensors deployed in the area, police are able to pinpoint the exact spot where the gunfireContinue reading “Commonwealth Beacon: ShotSpotter in the Cross Hairs” - South Side Weekly: CPD Stats on ShotSpotter Full of Holes, Experts Say
A report by the Chicago Police Department (CPD) that said officers respond more quickly to ShotSpotter alerts than 911 calls doesn’t make a convincing argument for keeping the technology, according to experts who reviewed it.Continue reading “South Side Weekly: CPD Stats on ShotSpotter Full of Holes, Experts Say” - ABC News 7: Prince George’s Co. Police Questioned Over Body-Worn Cameras Falling Off During Arrest
WASHINGTON (7News) — 7News I-Team was all over disturbing video coming out of Prince George’s County Police Department involving an officer’s use of force Cell phone video posted on social media showed Prince George’s CountyContinue reading “ABC News 7: Prince George’s Co. Police Questioned Over Body-Worn Cameras Falling Off During Arrest” - ABC News 7: Suspects in Prince George’s are Allowed to Sit in Front Seat of Cop Cars. Is That a Risk?WASHINGTON (7News) — 7News has discovered a major concern about the Prince George’s County Police Department. A lack of backseat cages may have led to disturbing incidents of use of force. It appears that theContinue reading “ABC News 7: Suspects in Prince George’s are Allowed to Sit in Front Seat of Cop Cars. Is That a Risk?”
- ABC News 7: Second Disturbing Use of Force Video From Inside Prince George’s County Police Dept.PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (7News) — Earlier this month, 7News was the first to show you a disturbing video coming out of the Prince George’s County Police Department. One of its officers hit a suspectContinue reading “ABC News 7: Second Disturbing Use of Force Video From Inside Prince George’s County Police Dept.”
- ABC News 7: Prince George’s County Officer Hits Suspect 8 Times in Head After Being Spat OnPRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, Md. (7News) — 7News obtained a disturbing video of a Prince George’s County police officer and his use of force. Some of the footage is hard to watch and until now, theContinue reading “ABC News 7: Prince George’s County Officer Hits Suspect 8 Times in Head After Being Spat On”
- NBC News Boston: Is ShotSpotter Gunfire Detection Technology Actually Helping our Communities?
When a gunshot goes off, police will tell you seconds matter, which is why for years, the gunshot warning technology called ShotSpotter has been so popular with police departments across the country. “To know whereContinue reading “NBC News Boston: Is ShotSpotter Gunfire Detection Technology Actually Helping our Communities?” - Mirror Indy: IMPD Recommended City Contract With ShotSpotter After 2022 Pilot
Roughly 18 months after police officials labeled gunshot detection technology as not “fiscally responsible,” an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department working group reversed course and recommended purchasing ShotSpotter services, according to a 2023 report obtained by MirrorContinue reading “Mirror Indy: IMPD Recommended City Contract With ShotSpotter After 2022 Pilot” - Chicago Tribune: With ShotSpotter Staying in Chicago for the Time Being, Dispute Continues Over the System’s Usefulness
Early one morning last May, on a bungalow-lined street in Avalon Park, ShotSpotter detected real gunshots: more than half a dozen rounds fired. It was a busy night, and officers didn’t make it to theContinue reading “Chicago Tribune: With ShotSpotter Staying in Chicago for the Time Being, Dispute Continues Over the System’s Usefulness” - Governing: New Policing Strategies and the Challenge of Implementation
The policing profession spends a lot of time discussing and studying programs and policies, and less time thinking about how they’re implemented. Why can a program that’s effective in one city be a disaster inContinue reading “Governing: New Policing Strategies and the Challenge of Implementation” - NGN: Stores are Locking Up Everyday Goods. Is Organized Retail Theft on the Rise?Socks, cold medicine, even deodorant. Going to Target or CVS these days to grab essentials is a little more complicated as retailers lock up everyday goods in an effort to curb shoplifting. It’s enough toContinue reading “NGN: Stores are Locking Up Everyday Goods. Is Organized Retail Theft on the Rise?”
- Wired: Predictive Policing Software Terrible at Predicting CrimesCrime predictions generated for the police department in Plainfield, New Jersey, rarely lined up with reported crimes, an analysis by The Markup has found, adding new context to the debate over the efficacy of crimeContinue reading “Wired: Predictive Policing Software Terrible at Predicting Crimes”
- Cambridge Day: Cambridge Police Launch their Justice Dashboard, Exploring Unequal Treatment by Showing Trends
The long-awaited Procedural Justice Dashboard, a major Cambridge police department project since 2019, has arrived after repeated delays from staff shortages and technological barriers. Unveiled Aug. 15, the dashboard appears to have kept many –Continue reading “Cambridge Day: Cambridge Police Launch their Justice Dashboard, Exploring Unequal Treatment by Showing Trends” - The Philadelphia Inquirer: There Isn’t any Body Camera Footage in the Fatal Shooting Along I-95 Involving PA State Troopers
As authorities continue to investigate the fatal shooting of Anthony Allegrini Jr., who was killed by a state trooper on I-95 earlier this month, they will not have the benefit of footage from body-worn camerasContinue reading “The Philadelphia Inquirer: There Isn’t any Body Camera Footage in the Fatal Shooting Along I-95 Involving PA State Troopers” - The Daily Free Press: Boston Joins Program to Reduce Gun Violence Within the Next Few YearsMayor Michelle Wu announced last Tuesday that the city of Boston aims to reduce homicide rates by participating in a new program that is designed to create Boston-specific strategies to address gun violence in theContinue reading “The Daily Free Press: Boston Joins Program to Reduce Gun Violence Within the Next Few Years”
- Albuquerque Journal: Study on ShotSpotter in Kansas City Finds ‘No Meaningful Change’ in Violence
ShotSpotter has been around for decades and, according to the company, has been implemented at one time or another in more than 130 cities nationwide. Although only a few years old in Albuquerque, numerous studiesContinue reading “Albuquerque Journal: Study on ShotSpotter in Kansas City Finds ‘No Meaningful Change’ in Violence” - Fort Worth Telegram: Robbers are Carjacking Ride-Share Drivers and Then Picking Up Victims, Baltimore Police Say
Unlike the millions of Americans who use apps such as Uber and Lyft and arrive at their desired locations, some riders in Baltimore found themselves unexpectedly shuttled to ATMs where they were robbed, police said.Continue reading “Fort Worth Telegram: Robbers are Carjacking Ride-Share Drivers and Then Picking Up Victims, Baltimore Police Say” - State Tech: Command Center Turns to Video Surveillance to Improve Response Times
After Newport News, Va., unveiled its real-time crime center (RTCC) last year, the city saw a tangible, near-immediate boost in its crime-fighting abilities, Newport News Police Department Chief Steve Drew says. “We’ve caught homicides onContinue reading “State Tech: Command Center Turns to Video Surveillance to Improve Response Times” - ABC 7 Washington D.C.: I-Team Exclusive uncovers some DC police surveillance cameras broken, malfunctioningWASHINGTON (7News) — Washington is one of the most monitored city’s in the world, but a 7News investigation is uncovering police crime cameras broken when detectives need them most. Metropolitan Police Department equipment records showContinue reading “ABC 7 Washington D.C.: I-Team Exclusive uncovers some DC police surveillance cameras broken, malfunctioning”
- Times-Herald Record: In aftermath for George Floyd, Middletown police praise adoption of body cameras
- The Badger Project: Homicide clearance rate in Wisconsin ranks near top in nation
The homicide clearance rate in Wisconsin is one of the highest in the country, according to a national nonprofit which tracks the data. About 72 percent of homicides committed in Wisconsin over the last decadeContinue reading “The Badger Project: Homicide clearance rate in Wisconsin ranks near top in nation” - The Markup: Uber And Lyft Drivers Are Being Carjacked at Alarming Rates
As Lyft driver Cynthia Norman steered a white Chevy through Cleveland’s streets on a cold night in January, the app pinged her to pick up a passenger named “NBA.” She pulled up to the curbContinue reading “The Markup: Uber And Lyft Drivers Are Being Carjacked at Alarming Rates” - NBC News: Police Fired 24 shots at a handcuffed man. Why didn’t they turn on their body cameras?
It has been almost a year and a half since Ariane McCree was shot dead by police in a Walmart parking lot, handcuffed and in possession of a gun, but his family still has aContinue reading “NBC News: Police Fired 24 shots at a handcuffed man. Why didn’t they turn on their body cameras?” - Syracuse.com: Sheriff Conway refuses body cameras while more U.S. police forces embrace them
In Onondaga County, at least 10 of the county’s 15 police departments — including the Syracuse Police Department — use the cameras. But the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, the second-largest police force in the county,Continue reading “Syracuse.com: Sheriff Conway refuses body cameras while more U.S. police forces embrace them” - WSHU Public Radio: Advocates call Suffolk County’s long hidden body camera policy ‘useless’
After much resistance, Suffolk County publicly released its policy on how it uses body cameras. The long-sought policy raises several concerns for civil rights advocates, experts, and lawmakers. The release comes three weeks after policeContinue reading “WSHU Public Radio: Advocates call Suffolk County’s long hidden body camera policy ‘useless’” - Chicago Sun Times: Former suburban cop hopes to cash in on new body-camera law in Illinois
A former suburban cop aims to capitalize on a new Illinois justice reform law that will require every officer in the state to have a body camera by 2025. Ben Laird retired about three yearsContinue reading “Chicago Sun Times: Former suburban cop hopes to cash in on new body-camera law in Illinois” - IPVM Surveillance News source: Mexico City Public Video Surveillance Faces Scrutiny
Do large-scale, multimillion-dollar safe city projects stop crime? If not, what is the point in selling the cameras in the first place? Tens of thousands of video surveillance cameras are currently operational in Mexico CityContinue reading “IPVM Surveillance News source: Mexico City Public Video Surveillance Faces Scrutiny” - CBS News Chicago: Left in the dark: Tens of thousands of moments were never captured on Chicago Police body cameras. Lax oversight allows it to happen
Marcus Smith arrived at the Pulaski Orange Line Station on Chicago’s Southwest Side at about noon. It was Thanksgiving Day, 2017, and his mother was waiting for him in a parked car beneath the tracks.AsContinue reading “CBS News Chicago: Left in the dark: Tens of thousands of moments were never captured on Chicago Police body cameras. Lax oversight allows it to happen” - Pavementpieces.com: Criminologists question what it means to “defund the police”
Cutting the NYPD police budget by $1 billion is not enough for protesters and advocacy groups, but three criminologists from the city’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice said defunding the police is not goingContinue reading “Pavementpieces.com: Criminologists question what it means to “defund the police”” - Newsday: Village police department approves body cameras for officers
Village police department approves body cameras for officers… - NJ.com: Police don’t have body cams in 4 of N.J.’s biggest towns. Here’s why.
State officials don’t have a current count of how many police agencies in New Jersey use body cameras, but a survey by New Jersey Advance Media found that officers in four of our 10 most-populatedContinue reading “NJ.com: Police don’t have body cams in 4 of N.J.’s biggest towns. Here’s why.” - CNN: LAPD Audit Reveals Dangers of High-Tech Policing
Washington, DCCNN Business—An audit of the Los Angeles police department is raising questions about new technologies law enforcement is using nationwide with little oversight. Last week, the department’s internal auditors, prompted by a community backlash,Continue reading “CNN: LAPD Audit Reveals Dangers of High-Tech Policing” - Newsday: Nassau police partners with Ring customers to receive video recordings
Nassau police partners with Ring customers to get video… - Denverrite.com: Property crime increased where Denver pot shops popped up
A study released Wednesday in the Justice Evaluation Journal links an increase in nonviolent crime in Denver with the legalization of marijuana. The study looked at crime rates from 2011 to 2016 on 187 blocksContinue reading “Denverrite.com: Property crime increased where Denver pot shops popped up” - Chicago Tribune: Serious crime has doubled on Chicago’s ‘L’ system, despite the CTA adding thousands of security camerasReports of serious crimes on the CTA rail system have doubled since 2015 even as ridership declined and such crimes rose only slightly citywide, according to a Tribune analysis of Chicago police data. At theContinue reading “Chicago Tribune: Serious crime has doubled on Chicago’s ‘L’ system, despite the CTA adding thousands of security cameras”
- C|NET: Amazon Ring Alerts Often Tie Up Police with False Alarms
In May, police in Hammond, Indiana, got a suspicious-person alert from a concerned resident. She could see a man, she told officers, through her Ring smart doorbell. The resident had already sent police another message,Continue reading “C|NET: Amazon Ring Alerts Often Tie Up Police with False Alarms” - The Post and Courier: When SC Residents are Afraid to Call the Police, Technology Alerts Officers of Gunshots
At 12:50 a.m. June 17, the sound of gunshots rips through a neighborhood in northern Columbia. A sensor relay picks up the sound waves, triangulating their origin — 5118-2 Mauldin Ave. Alerts are sent toContinue reading “The Post and Courier: When SC Residents are Afraid to Call the Police, Technology Alerts Officers of Gunshots” - New York Times: A Major Police Body Cam Company Just Banned Facial Recognition. Its Ethics Board Says the Technology is Not Reliable Enough to Justify Using
A Major Police Body Cam Company Just Banned Facial Recognition. Its Ethics Board Says the Technology is Not Reliable Enough to Justify Using… - NBC News New York: I-Team Investigation: ‘Insane’ Car Modification Mimics Gunfire, Induces PanicTinted windows and hydraulic lowriders are so … 1990s. One of the latest trends in custom car modifications goes way beyond style —and some say it could cause a dangerous panic among pedestrians. The modificationContinue reading “NBC News New York: I-Team Investigation: ‘Insane’ Car Modification Mimics Gunfire, Induces Panic”
- C|NET: Amazon’s helping police build a surveillance network with Ring doorbellsIf you’re walking in Bloomfield, New Jersey, there’s a good chance you’re being recorded. But it’s not a corporate office or warehouse security camera capturing the footage — it’s likely a Ring doorbell made byContinue reading “C|NET: Amazon’s helping police build a surveillance network with Ring doorbells”
- Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting: ShotSpotter tells Louisville police about gunshots, but officers rarely look for evidence
Christina Wilcox hears the blast of gunfire echo through her Shawnee neighborhood a few times a week. She’s learned to quickly assess the threat: Are her kids safe? Doors locked? Should she drop to theContinue reading “Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting: ShotSpotter tells Louisville police about gunshots, but officers rarely look for evidence” - CNN: LAPD Audit Reveals Dangers of High-Tech Policing
Washington, DCCNN Business—An audit of the Los Angeles police department is raising questions about new technologies law enforcement is using nationwide with little oversight. Last week, the department’s internal auditors, prompted by a community backlash,Continue reading “CNN: LAPD Audit Reveals Dangers of High-Tech Policing” - The Philadelphia Inquirer: In Philly, Most Armed Robbers Remain Beyond the Long Arm of the LawIn Philly, Most Armed Robbers Remain Beyond the Long Arm of the Law…
- Detroit Free Press: Controversial Surveillance Program Coming to Detroit Public Housing
Project Green Light, a controversial 3-year-old surveillance program that has been touted as a major crime stopper by the Detroit Police Department, will make its entry into the city’s public housing program by year’s end.Continue reading “Detroit Free Press: Controversial Surveillance Program Coming to Detroit Public Housing” - The Brooklyn Ink: Extreme Makeover: Precinct Edition
In the 73rd precinct in Brownsville, reporting a crime goes like this: you step through a brick entryway into a cramped, dimly-lit room and you wait there, staring at a wall. A set of doubleContinue reading “The Brooklyn Ink: Extreme Makeover: Precinct Edition” - The Philadelphia Inquirer: After Fatal Strip Mall Shooting Lack of Dashcams Under Scrutiny in DeptfordAfter Fatal Strip Mall Shooting Lack of Dashcams Under Scrutiny in Deptford…
- Ben Fordham Drive Show, Radio Sydney (Australia): Citizen Virtual Patrol Network
Listen to the full show of Sydney Live with Ben Fordham… - Chicago City Wire: Still No Arrests in Mob Assault on Teenager Near Lane Tech; Roscoe Village Residents on Wedge
Chicago Police (CPD) have yet to make any arrests stemming from a mob assault, caught on video, on a 15-year-old male near Lane Tech High School in Roscoe Village during a Memorial Day weekend carnival.Continue reading “Chicago City Wire: Still No Arrests in Mob Assault on Teenager Near Lane Tech; Roscoe Village Residents on Wedge” - New York Times: In Newark, Police Cameras, and the Internet, Watch YouIn Newark, Police Cameras, and the Internet, Watch You…
- Detroit Free Press: Does Detroit’s Project Green Light Really Make the City Safer?What had been one of the hundreds of violent offenses occurring in the city each week — all competing for the attention of an ever-dwindling police force — was now a homicide, tied to a much-scrutinized clearance rate. As the detectivesContinue reading “Detroit Free Press: Does Detroit’s Project Green Light Really Make the City Safer?”
- Dagans Nyheter (Sweden): Svensken vill ha kameraövervakning – men effekten fortfarande oklar
Svensken vill ha kameraövervakning – men effekten fortfarande oklar… - Detroit Free Press: Detroit’s Greektown district unveils surveillance to boost securityEleven businesses along Monroe Street have joined Project Green Light, a program that sends real-time surveillance footage to the Detroit Police Department. The coordinated move, which was made official Tuesday, makes the Greektown district theContinue reading “Detroit Free Press: Detroit’s Greektown district unveils surveillance to boost security”
- New York Times: New Yorkers Don’t Scare EasilyNew Yorkers Don’t Scare Easily…
- Democrat & Chronicle (Part of the USA Today Network): Is shot spotter reliable enough? Critics question human equation behind technology
For Rochester police, the gunfire detection system known as ShotSpotter has been a valuable tool, alerting them to possible shootings and speeding up the police response time. But, more than that, the system — whichContinue reading “Democrat & Chronicle (Part of the USA Today Network): Is shot spotter reliable enough? Critics question human equation behind technology” - The Newsmakers, TRT World Media (Turkey): Can the Los Angeles Police Department be Trusted with Drones?
Can the Los Angeles Police Department be Trusted with Drones? - The Buffalo News: Will offering more reward money help Buffalo solve more homicides?
Will offering more reward money help Buffalo solve more homicides? - Time Magazine: Shots Fired
The alert blares from the computer like a ray gun from an old cartoon: WAH-wahwahwahwah. Jonathan, a ShotSpotter analyst, focuses on one of the six monitors in front of him and zooms in on aContinue reading “Time Magazine: Shots Fired” - Star Ledger: What new numbers reveal about violent crime in each of N.J.’s 20 largest citiesHow much violence does each of New Jersey’s most populous cities see? Here’s a closer look at the State Police Uniform Crime Data for the largest cities in the state based on population. The 2016Continue reading “Star Ledger: What new numbers reveal about violent crime in each of N.J.’s 20 largest cities”
- Allentown Morning Call: Magic bullet for Allentown? New citywide system would pinpoint gunshots
Magic bullet for Allentown? New citywide system would pinpoint gunshots… - Times Herald-Record: Perception vs. reality: People don’t feel safer despite drop in crimeMajor violent and property crime in the mid-Hudson region has declined 42 percent from 1990 to 2015 despite a growing population, mirroring a national trend. The question is: Do you feel safer? A recent nationalContinue reading “Times Herald-Record: Perception vs. reality: People don’t feel safer despite drop in crime”
- Statescoop.com: Civil rights advocates: Texas’ new police body camera footage fee is “a shot” at poor communities
Police departments in Texas are now required to charge a set fee to release any body camera footage to the public, a change that civil rights advocates fear could severely restrict access to police video.Continue reading “Statescoop.com: Civil rights advocates: Texas’ new police body camera footage fee is “a shot” at poor communities” - Statescoop.com: Judge strikes down Calif. City’s $3,000 bill for release of police body camera videosA California judge just ruled that a city police department was out of line when it charged public records requesters thousands of dollars to get access to body camera footage, raising big questions about howContinue reading “Statescoop.com: Judge strikes down Calif. City’s $3,000 bill for release of police body camera videos”
- The Virginian Pilot: Chesapeake police to track more data on interactions with the public
Chesapeake police to track more data on interactions with the public… - International Business Review: Fighting crime with computers: Is predictive policing the future of law enforcement?
When it comes to predictive policing – using cutting-edge data algorithms and software to help fight crime – it’s easy to stumble into the realm of science-fiction. Minds will drift to Minority Report, the TomContinue reading “International Business Review: Fighting crime with computers: Is predictive policing the future of law enforcement?” - New York Times: In Wisconsin, a backlash against using data to foretell defendants’ futuresIn Wisconsin, a backlash against using data to foretell defendants’ futures…
Noteworthy News Media Expert Credits
Dagans Nyheter (Sweden)
Svenskarna positive till kamerovervakning
4/21/2018
Securityuser.com (Sweden)
New York-forskare huvudtalare på Trygghetskamerans dag
4/18/2017
New York German Press
Predictive policing
8/10/2016
Happening Now, Fox News
Rising crime in American cities.
8/12/2015
TechPresident.com
Cory Booker routes around capitol hill veteran to win the tech vote
8/9/2013
Eric L. Piza, Ph.D. 