Communication Systems
Computer-Aided Dispatch software (CAD) is one of the communication system products used in the criminal justice system. CAD software has a capability of storing records of all incidents handled by the criminal justice agencies (Computer-Aided Dispatch Software, 2011).
Usually, CAD software allows interconnection of alarm inputs, record management systems, mobile data systems, federal database for criminal justice, time synchronization resources, and CAD systems of other criminal justice agencies from national, to local levels. CAD software utilizes client-server configuration, whereby, all criminal justice data is stored in a central computer, which is then linked to various workstations used by criminal justice officers. CAD software supports programs such as, location verification, E911 interface, incident display, mapping, report generation, and time stamping. Companies, which produce CAD, include Motorola, PEC Solutions, M3i Systems, and Swift Justice.
The most common method of marketing CAD software among the criminal justice agencies is internet advertisement. CAD is very flexible since it is used both in law enforcement, and in the courts. For instance, using its mapping capability, police officers can locate specific areas where incidents of infringement of the law are reported, and take immediate actions against the offenders, before they commit serious crimes. On the other hand, in the courts, CAD is used to store records for court proceedings, hence allowing easy and fast retrieval of information, which in return, allows fast delivery of justice (Computer-Aided Dispatch Software, 2011). License Plate Recognition (LPR) system is also another communication system product available for use by the public safety agencies. LPR allows highway patrol and traffic control police officers to read license plates for vehicles from all countries of the world (Products, 2011).
LPR is GPS enabled, and it can read license plate of a moving or a parked vehicle at a speed of 125 kilometers per hour. LPR also allows real-time monitoring of vehicles either on two lanes traffic, or on a parking lot, parked at 450 or 900 angles. Police officers from two different locations can communicate using LPR system while monitoring the movement of vehicles, through video compression feature of LPR. The company, which produces LPR, is Police Software.com.
It also utilizes the internet to market LPR. LPR is useful in enforcement of traffic rules (Products, 2011).
