Are you curious about technology in criminal investigations? When we talk of technology nowadays, artificial intelligence is one of the first things that comes to our minds. AI-based solutions have seeped into every nook and corner of our daily lives.

For instance, just a few years ago, who could have thought that the use of modern technology in a criminal investigation would be dominated by different AI disciplines, such as machine learning, computer vision, audio analysis, and so forth?

Criminal justice professionals have been working with tech people to reduce dangerous situations in society. The US Department of Justice has been pushing for more use of technology in prosecuting crimes. Crime prevention, public safety, and homeland security are often prioritized over people’s privacy rights.

Law enforcement and criminal investigations

One of the biggest challenges for law enforcement agencies today is the large amount of data included in any investigation. It leads to an increasing number of unresolved cases and a slowdown in investigative work. Investigators need to be able to analyze these digital assets to find relevant information about each case and possible evidence that could be presented in court.

We see a significant increase in law enforcement bodies resorting to AI solutions to manage data overload. They expect them to automatically and efficiently analyze and interpret videos, sensors, and even biometric data, which is allowed in court. These solutions use artificial intelligence to connect data points that human investigators otherwise overlook or take too long to detect.

This proves to be a fundamental difference in matters of urgency, such as abduction, when the victim needs to be found and brought to safety as soon as possible. Another advantage of such analysis based on artificial intelligence is that it helps minimize the time researchers spend reviewing large amounts of data.

The Impact of Technology on Criminal Investigation Processes

AI Search can be customized to automatically isolate images from photo and video sources linked to specific crimes. Weapons, human trafficking, and child abuse can be identified without exposing investigators to graphic footage. All such analysis may be performed legally and by the requisites of the court of law.

Agencies are drowning in data and accumulating terabytes every day. The primary application of AI and ML is data management, particularly to enable the search, filtering, and retrieval of large amounts of data. Here are a few real-life AI and ML applications that help criminal investigations in countless ways.

Efficient Image and Video Analysis

Image and video analysis is a daunting task for law enforcement. Many agencies say they spend up to two hours editing a five-minute video for public release or individually reviewing CCTV footage in hopes of finding suspects, missing persons, or evidence. These hours can add up quickly.

AI and ML technologies allow agents to filter their queries and search for specific attributes. For example, if a man wears a red shirt, the system will only look for the man in the red shirt. Once the perpetrator has been identified, the police officer can edit or delete any information that is not involved or is irrelevant, leaving only the man in the red shirt on the screen.

Augmented Audio Analysis and Transcription

Police radio communication remains critical evidence in many criminal cases. However, hours of sorting through audio libraries for tiny bits of information can become quite frustrating, so many agencies have abandoned the practice. AI and ML technology can help filter out important things by scanning certain information in the data, such as when a police officer shouts, “He has a weapon,” or when a suspect yells in the background, “I am going to hurt you. “

The bonus for audio analysis is real-time audio transcription. Instead of listening to the audio, the system can print the entire audio transcription of the recording for use in an official report or as evidence. Advances in audio recognition allow AI systems to find the information a police officer needs quickly in real-time. For example, the officer may ask the AI system to enter a person’s name and date of birth.

The system can respond directly to a police officer with information on driver’s licenses, convictions, recent arrests, recent implications, recent warnings, or any other critical information.

Technological Advances in Criminal Investigation Methods

One of the fastest-growing applications for AI and ML is in the field of gunshot detection equipment. Researchers and data science companies are developing advanced algorithms to record the exact location of gunshots, the number of rounds fired, etc.

Thanks to AI technology, these systems can also distinguish between muzzle blasts and shock waves and determine the type of weapon (rifle, shotgun, pistol) used in the shooting. Many agencies use artificial intelligence to fight crime. These systems can search for a wealth of information and provide accurate crime predictions using predictive analytics. Agencies can then use this information to allocate police resources accordingly.

Forensic Analysis

AI and ML technologies are currently also involved in DNA analysis. As DNA technology evolves, so does the sensitivity of DNA analysis. Forensic pathologists can now detect and treat substandard, degraded, or unsustainable DNA as evidence that could not have been used a few years ago.

In our modern world, technological advances have changed almost every aspect of life – including the criminal justice and broader legal system. Technology plays an essential part in today’s criminal investigations. Several stakeholder groups may be involved in criminal investigations, leveraging different legal technologies.

These groups can include law enforcement officers, who investigate crimes and collect evidence; law firm lawyers, who defend the accused; and corporations, who may be investigated for criminal activity, such as misconduct or fraud. Let’s look at the technology these potential stakeholders can use in criminal investigations.

Law Enforcement

As part of their investigation into a crime, law enforcement officers may use various technologies to help them identify a suspect. Profiling databases help officers share information, spot patterns in behaviour, and determine what they are looking for.

Nowadays, most police cars have mobile data terminals, enabling them to keep in touch with their central office while on patrol and access essential information such as maps. They may also be able to use these terminals to create traffic citations and submit electronic arrest reports.

These data terminals allow computer-aided dispatch, where dispatchers identify which patrol unit is closest to an incident based on its GPS location. GPS systems also help track suspects, identify their location, and plan the best route for law enforcement officers to reach them.

New technologies used by law enforcement agencies

Gunshot detection systems can be used in high-crime areas to help the police detect the origin of gunshots. Cameras with automatic licence plate recognition can inform them immediately if a vehicle is stolen. They can also use rapid ID systems for instant access to a driver’s information, including the photo on their driver’s license, fingerprints, and any outstanding arrest warrants.

Surveillance technology, including state-of-the-art cameras, body cams, and digital video technology, gathers evidence that may be relied upon in court. Robots and drones can collect evidence from a safe distance for dangerous and difficult-to-reach locations. 3D scans of crime scenes may also be taken.

The investigative process may involve fingerprinting and DNA testing to prove the accused was present at the crime scene. Both of these technologies are advancing constantly. Fingerprinting, for example, now uses image enhancement software and biometrics to analyze fingerprints with acute accuracy.

To keep track of all the evidence in a case, law enforcement officials store all the data in inventory management software and can access it whenever necessary.

How Technology Shapes Criminal Investigations

In our increasingly virtual world, law firms also use various modern technologies to help defend their clients and uphold their rights. These technologies include eDiscovery, which refers to the electronic exchange of information between parties involved in an investigation. This allows lawyers to collect and analyze the digital evidence necessary to build their case.

The process involves identifying sources of electronically stored information, collecting and preserving this ESI in its native format, reviewing and analyzing it, reproducing it usable for others, and presenting it as evidence during hearings or depositions. Cloud-based instant discovery software can help manage this process.

Police officer’s technology tools

Practice management software is increasingly becoming essential to running a profitable law firm, particularly for smaller firms. Cloud-based legal practice management software can help streamline the process of running a firm, organizing cases and interacting with clients.

Cloud-based file storage systems may store and share data and documents. Document management is an essential task for law firms. Scanner apps allow lawyers to digitize records, and document automation tools speed up document creation by auto-filling fields with previously collected information.

Management software can also include time tracking and billing software, which lawyers use to easily keep track of their hours and bill their clients accordingly without taking their time and focus away from the case.

The Influence of Modern Technology in Solving Crimes

Corporations may also be involved in criminal investigations. If corporations are investigated for criminal activity, their in-house teams must work with law firms, etc. Critically, they will manage and collaborate on legal matters via matter management software, and any contracts will be handled using contract management software.

Matter management software allocates, manages, and reports on legal work within a corporation. It can help scale legal support, increase transparency, and boost lawyer productivity—all of which are essential during a criminal investigation.

This software can be used by in-house teams to create briefs that instantly detail precisely what they need and share supporting documents.

Legal matters can be automatically assigned to the correct lawyer or team member based on predefined allocation rules, and collaborators can add comments in real time. All collaborators can see a matter’s status instantly. The software integrates with many existing apps businesses use to ensure a seamless experience.

Crime mapping and algorithms

Documents may need to be urgently retrieved and reviewed during a criminal investigation. Contract management software enables a corporation’s in-house team to filter and search contracts for essential information quickly.

They can negotiate in real time with other corporation members and external parties, such as law firms, via secure access controls. The software can also speed up these negotiations by prompting those involved in the case to review documents and supporting materials when needed via automatic notifications and ensuring essential documents can be signed immediately via eSignature from any device.

It is clear that various stakeholders are using a huge number of different technologies in criminal investigations. These technologies are also constantly advancing, with new inventions, updates, and automation emerging constantly.

The tidal wave of technological progress affecting all aspects of modern life shows no sign of slowing down, and the criminal justice system is no exception.

Utilizing Technology for Enhanced Criminal Investigations

New technologies are always coming out in the criminology world. There has been a lot of talk about police departments in China using facial recognition. You can assume that the FBI is also looking into it.

21st-century technology tools and social media use have made it easier for police forces to bring strong cases to the courtroom. You can expect to hear more about the following technologies shortly:

• Automatic license plate readers
• Crime mapping
• Technologies in the cybersecurity space
• Information technology in the forensic science space
• Technological advances in positioning systems

Cybersecurity in Investigations: Tracking Digital Footprints

Internet companies such as PayPal use artificial intelligence to detect fraud, and the U.S. Department of Transportation also resorts to it to track real-time accidents, weather forecasts, traffic patterns, etc.

Artificial intelligence remains and plays an increasingly important role in our personal lives and in the criminal justice system. We cannot ignore its potential to improve law enforcement and the justice system. We hope you found this article on technology in criminal investigations interesting.