Police Stun Guns and Patrol Car Video Surveillance: A Bad Idea on Both Counts Essay

Police Stun Guns and Patrol Car Video Surveillance: A Bad Idea on Both Counts                       Gary                                                                                                                       University of Phoenix/Axia College



Police Stun Guns and Patrol Car Video Surveillance: A Bad Idea on Both Counts

Society’s evolvement into the cyber age has left virtually every area of life unscathed from the permutations of the technological phenomena of electronics. Computers, internet, intranet, DNA evidence/databases, CCTV, and the introduction of stun guns—tasers—has enhanced the capabilities for law enforcement agencies in particular. Technology driven advances have been implemented with the hopes of intensified methods of successful crime fighting/prevention provided by in-car video surveillance along with stun guns, introduced as an alternative for firearms and a safer technology for successfully detaining unruly individuals. How effective have the new technologies been in achieving the ends for which they were created. I would beg that the results have produced less than optimal results.
The concept of in-car video surveillance is considered by the nonprofessional to be a technology that appears to be simple enough to implement in addition to the benefits of such systems. The benefits of in-car surveillance provide a new form of evidence, can disclose police misconduct—as viewed as a plus by the public—the cost of such systems is problematic for many smaller departments. The quality of video footage has increased dramatically with the progression of digital capabilities replacing the burdensome and bulky poor quality provided by analog. Storage of extensive video footage while adhering to the evidentiary chain of process to ensure viable evidence as needed for criminal proceedings, has become increasingly viewed as a tool for the police to abuse their powers—video tape editing (Coraid, 2008).                 Refinement of...