4 Technologies That are Revolutionizing Criminal Investigations

Since the early days of society, reconstructing the past to determine who is responsible for criminal activities is a difficult challenge. While most academic studies about criminal justice focus on the trial and interpretation of evidence, the investigations are where the necessary information is gathered and compiled. Technology has always played a role in improving investigators' abilities to find clues, and this trend is continuing through the digital era.

Here are four technologies that are revolutionizing criminal investigations.

1) Global Positioning Satellite Technology

Global positioning satellite (GPS) technology is a crucial part to the lives of many in the developed world. By using signals bounced off of satellites, receivers use mathematical algorithms that involve Einstein's theory of relativity to determine the receiver's location. While the technology has been in existence since the 1980s, the cost of the receivers has historically been high. Modern advances, however, have substantially reduced their cost, and most modern smart phones come equipped with GPS devices.

This technology has given investigators the ability to track and log the movements of suspects and criminals. Small devices can be implanted on vehicles, and the GPS data on their smart phones can be tracked in some situations.

2) DNA

DNA is the blueprint that guides biological organisms to create necessary cells, proteins and other constituents. For investigators, DNA provides an immensely detailed fingerprint. Contained within blood, hair and almost every human cell, DNA matches can conclusively show that a suspect was at a particular location. DNA has been used in criminal trials since the early 1990s, but the technology in the early days was primitive and prohibitively expensive.

New techniques have transformed the use of DNA in criminal investigations. These new techniques allow scientists to make matches on smaller amounts of DNA than was previously possible. Further, the cost of DNA testing has dropped substantially.

3) Computer Forensics

Computers are constantly being embedded further within the lives of those in developed societies. With this in mind, it is no surprise that criminals are using computers for a number of activities related to their crimes. Online activities are often tracked and logged; a user's activities on major search engines, for example, are often stored and can be subpoenaed by investigators. However, computer forensics are making an even bigger difference by being able to access data on the computer itself.

Many are unaware of the fact that information that is deleted is not physically absent from the hard drive, and advanced techniques allow investigators to recover information that suspects tried to delete. In a growing number of trials, recovered hard drive data is leading to convictions in cases that prosecutors would not have brought to trial otherwise.

4) Video Technology

Being caught on camera is often thought to be a criminal's worst nightmare. Poor video quality, however, often mitigates this evidence. With grainy, choppy video, it can be impossible to determine the identity of someone on a video tape. Advances in video technology, however, are greatly increasing the effectiveness of video technology in criminal investigations.

This technology is also reducing the cost of criminal justice; criminals who clearly see themselves on video performing the criminal act are more likely to plead guilty and save the cost of the trial. Additionally, the lower cost of installing video systems and storing their data is leading to their installation in more places than ever before, and more video cameras lead to more criminals caught in the act.

As new technologies are discovered, it can be expected that law enforcement agents will be among the first to use them. For those who have been the victims of crime, these new advances can be a tremendous comfort.

 Gary Shults

About the Guest Author:

Gary Shults is a crime scene investigator and guest author at Top Criminal Justice Schools, where he contributed to the guide to the Top 10 Online Criminal Justice Schools.