Law Enforcement Technology

JUL 2015

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INDUSTRY NEWS www.officer.com July 2015 Law Enforcement Technology 51 Crime against persons with disabilities reported The rate of violent victimization for persons with disabilities (36 per 1,000) was more than twice the age-adjusted rate for persons without disabilities (14 per 1,000) in 2013. Because persons with disabilities— hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self- care, or independent living limitations—are generally older, the age adjustment stan- dardizes the rate of violent crime to show what it would be if the age distribution was similar in the two populations. Persons with disabilities experienced about 1.3 million violent victimizations in 2013. Rates of serious violent victimiza- tion—rape, sexual assault, robbery, or aggravated assault—were more than three times higher for persons with disabilities (14 per 1,000) than the age- adjusted rate for persons without disabili- ties (4 per 1,000). Among violent crime victims with disabilities, about a quarter (24 percent) believed they were targeted because of their disability—up from 13 percent in 2009. Persons with cognitive disabilities had the highest rate of violent victimization (67 per 1,000) and persons with hearing disabilities had the lowest rate of violent victimization (17 per 1,000). About half (51 percent) of violent crime against persons with disabilities involved persons with multiple disabilities in 2013. According to the survey, whites (38 per 1,000) and blacks (31 per 1,000) had higher rates of violent victimization than persons of other races (15 per 1,000) in 2013. Males and females with disabilities were victimized at similar rates in 2013. The rate of violent victimization against males with disabilities was more than double that of males without. And the rate of victimization against females with disabilities was nearly triple that of females without disabilities. Additionally, 41 percent of violent crime against persons with disabilities was committed by persons they knew well or by casual acquaintances, compared to 35 percent of violent crime against persons without disabilities in 2013. An estimated 58 percent of violent crime against persons with disabilities occurred during the daytime, compared to 53 percent of violent crime against persons without disabilities. To see the report, go here: www.bjs.gov BJS launces body-worn camera toolkit The U.S. Offce of Justice Programs' Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) launched the National Body-Worn Camera Toolkit, an online clearinghouse of resources designed to help law enforce- ment professionals and the communities they serve plan and implement body-worn camera programs. The toolkit consolidates and translates research, promising practices, templates and tools that have been developed by subject matter experts. In late February, BJA convened a Body-Worn Camera (BWC) Expert Panel that consisted of law enforcement leaders, recognized criminal justice prac- titioners, national policy leaders and civil rights and community advocates. The expert panel came together to discuss the benefts and challenges related to the adoption of BWC technology and to begin developing an online toolkit that can serve as a clearinghouse of resources on body-worn camera program planning and implementation. Through facilitated discussions, the expert panel covered a full range of issues and considerations that confront communities that are considering to adopt the technology, as well as the benefts that can accrue when programs are successful. The expert panel identifed strategies to address key implementation issues, including policy implications, tech- nological and legal considerations, and training needs. The result of that joint effort was a toolkit designed to provide assistance in selecting the technology that best fts a department's needs, and to provide resources so that law enforcement can collaboratively establish policies that address privacy, training, and implemen- tation. The National Body-Worn Camera Toolkit can be found at www.bja.gov/bwc and focuses on procurement, policies, training, implementation and retention. It includes the perspectives of prosecutors, defenders, advocates and community members. National Law Enforcement and Firefghters Children's Foundation sends grant to family of ofcer lost in the line of duty National Law Enforcement and Firefghters Children's Foundation (NLEAFCF) recently sent out a $5,000 emergency grant to the family of a police offcer lost in the line of duty. The check was sent to help with some of the imme- diate needs of the family of Hattiesburg, Mississippi Police Offcer Benjamin Deen, who is survived by his wife and two chil- dren, a 9-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter. NLEAFCF provides special-need grants and college scholarships throughout the country to families of law enforce- ment and frefghting personnel lost or permanently disabled in the line of duty. NLEAFCF founder Al Kahn noted of Police Offcer Deen, "Like many of the men and women who dedicate their lives to protect and serve, Benjamin Deen saw his career as more than a job—following in the foot- steps of his grandfather, he saw his work as a higher calling." In 2002, Kahn formed the NLEAFCF which provides long-term support through emergency grants, college scholarships and family friendly events for the children of fallen frst responders. Since 2006, the NLEAFCF's Scholarship & Grant Program has provided over 225 college scholar- ships and special need grants to indi- viduals from line of duty families and law enforcement and frefghter organizations across 29 states. Each Thanksgiving since 2001, NLEAFCF hosts more than 1,300 children and family members of fallen heroes from the New York City Police Department, New York City Fire Department, Port Authority Police Department, Wounded Warriors, America's Camp and other local law enforcement and frefghting teams for a hot breakfast and a front row view of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. For more information on the NLEAFCF visit nleafcf.org.

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