rom 1993 to 1997, law enforce-

ment agencies across the United

States responded to 13,510 vari-

ous types of bombing incidents.

During this same time, more than

300 people were killed in explo-

sive incidents. (From the 1997 Arson and

Explosives Incident Report, U.S. Department of

the Treasury.)

The task of dealing with a bomb or terrorist

device is, to say the least, a dangerous and com-

plex undertaking. As devices become more

advanced, the need for indepth training of bomb

technicians greatly increases. While training is

possible on “sterile” ranges and in classrooms, it

becomes more effective when bomb technicians

are able to actually use both their knowledge and

new technologies in realistic scenarios. So was

born “Operation Riverside.”

Held last August in Riverside, California,

Operation Riverside brought together 160 bomb

experts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation

(FBI), the U.S. Secret Service, the Bureau of

Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, all branches of

the U.S. military, as well as a number of U.S. and

foreign law enforcement agencies, to exchange

information about tools and techniques available

to make bomb disablement safer. It was sponsored

by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Sandia

National Laboratories (SNL), and the National

Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology

Center (NLECTC)–Rocky Mountain, in coopera-

tion with the Riverside Police Department.

During the 10-day event, experts practiced

with new technologies on nearly 150 mock

bombs. The teams of hand-picked bomb techni-

cians had the opportunity to react to several

complex scenarios that tested their ingenuity.

After completing the scenarios, instructors

offered evaluations and input to team members.

“We operated under the philosophy of

‘train-the-trainers’ at Operation Riverside,” says

Jim Keller, director of NLECTC–Rocky Mountain,

which assisted with the event. “It was our inten-

tion that the participants return to their loca-

tions and train other technicians

in the new tools and

techniques.”

According to Chris Cherry,

explosives engineer at SNL, this type

of training prepares bomb tech-

nicians for the potential

explosive-

related inci-

dents they may

face in the next

century.

Although

much of the

technology

used during

the conference

is still classified,

Cherry estimates

that most of it will

become available to

bomb squads over the next

several months.

In the future, Cherry says that

bomb technicians will employ

W i n t e r 2 0 0 0National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center

FF

ecurity technologies

generally are designed

to keep people out of

certain areas—alarm

systems and bars keep

the bad guys out of

homes and businesses. More sophisti-

cated technologies, like cameras and

electronic access systems, keep an eye

on visitors or deny access to unautho-

rized personnel. But a prison is an

entirely different animal. Here, the pri-

mary purpose is to keep people in.

Prisons are about to get a little

help in accomplishing this task

from some of the Nation’s foremost

security experts. Sandia National

Laboratories (SNL), the lead labora-

tory in physical security for the U.S.

Department of Energy’s nuclear facili-

ties, is teaching prison officials how

to perform a “vulnerability analysis,”

a task that uses security methodolo-

gy to spot potential weaknesses in

correctional facilities.

“What you’re trying to accom-

plish in a nuclear facility is much

different than in a prison,” says

Debbie Spencer, Ph.D., Distinguished

Member of Technical Staff at SNL and

formerly the program manager of the

National Institute of Justice (NIJ)

satellite facility at SNL. “With a

nuclear facility, people are trying to

break in and either steal nuclear

material or blow things up. With a

prison, people are trying to escape.

So the first thing we have to look at

SS

(See Big Bangs,page 4)

(See Bad Guys,page 2)

Photos courtesy Riverside,California,Press Enterprise.

Photo copyright © Ken Anderson/West Stock.

2

is, what is the threat? We have to look at the proba-

bility of escape, as well as preventing and contain-

ing violence and detecting contraband that might

be smuggled in.”

With funding from NIJ, SNL security experts

have looked at several correctional facilities in

Pennsylvania and Texas, as well as the blueprints

for a Nebraska prison and a Michigan jail. Spencer

says that SNL scrutinizes the physical facility and

learns about all areas of prison life, from education,

recreation, and inmate movement to staffing, exist-

ing security systems, and the nature of the sur-

rounding community. “We analyze everything and

then assess where the weaknesses are,” she says.

“It’s a great partnership because we look at things

from a system perspective and we combine that

with the prison staff’s knowledge of their own

facility.”

Superintendent Jim Morgan, who heads

the State Correctional Institution at Smithfield

(Huntingdon, Pennsylvania), agrees. “We are SNL’s

prison experts, and they are our vulnerability

analysis experts. It’s a wonderful marriage of those

two disciplines, and we’re very excited about it.”

Morgan serves as the Pennsylvania

Department of Corrections (DOC) liaison with

SNL to develop corrections-specific vulnerability

assessments with an emphasis on video surveil-

lance applications. Morgan says that one of two

assessments carried out in Pennsylvania was done

at the facility adjacent to

his, the State

Correctional

Institution

at Huntingdon, which was the scene of an inmate

escape in August 1999.

According to Martin Horn, Secretary of

Corrections for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,

prior to the escape, the Pennsylvania DOC—based

on SNL’s recommendations—had increased the

budget for perimeter intrusion detection and sur-

veillance cameras at Huntingdon. However, Horn

says, because of appropriation and procurement

constraints, the fixes had not been made at the

time of the escape. “This was a case of being ‘a day

late and a dollar short,’” he says. “Had we the ben-

efit of SNL’s assessment 12 months earlier, this

escape might have been prevented.”

In its assessment, the SNL team pointed out

things prison officials had not considered, or in

some cases, had not noticed. “We had a secure

exercise yard that was next to a wall with a door-

way in it. Although the door was secure, it was still

a door,” Horn says. “The assessment team found a

means of egress and ingress that had not been

used for years and was not sufficiently secured.

They also gave us a lot of advice with respect to

our perimeter intrusion detection and the use of

cameras and lights.”

In one Pennsylvania facility, SNL recommended

that prison officials cut trees along a fenceline and

staff one of its posts full-time, instead of staffing it

only at night. SNL also noted that while one unit’s

25 perimeter cameras were effective, there were

problems relating to the internal monitoring of

inmate movements through the facility and in the

dining hall that had to be addressed. The team also

recommended that staff change some of the locks

and locking systems, as well as upgrade camera

units and rethink where the cameras were

placed.

The use of surveillance cam-

eras was of particular interest

to Pennsylvania prison offi-

cials. Five years ago such

a technology was

rarely used in a prison setting. In recent years,

however, it has become a popular security alterna-

tive. “In their rush to use surveillance cameras,

everyone has perhaps not used them to their opti-

mum or has put in more cameras than their staff

can even look at,” Horn says. “This assessment

gave us a lot of advice with respect to how we can

use cameras effectively while preventing an infor-

mation overload, which is a security system that is

more than we can staff.”

The vulnerability analysis gave prison officials

a fresh perspective on security and on the use of

security technologies. It also offered them a way to

extend the life of an older prison unit by employing

new types of technology. The ultimate goal of the

project, however, is to create a methodology that

corrections officials can use to conduct their own

vulnerability analyses.

“This has been a pilot program that looked to

refine the methodology of vulnerability analysis so

we could teach the methodology to prison and jail

personnel,” says Nick Nicholson, Ph.D., a security

systems analyst at SNL. “It is not something we

want to be the sole owner of. With the funding

from NIJ, we’ll have a publication and a training

program that administrators can send their person-

nel to. We hope that they’ll become self-sufficient

after that.”

For more information about Sandia

National Laboratories’ vulnerability analysis

project for prisons, contact Steve Morrison at

the National Law Enforcement and Corrections

Technology Center (NLECTC)–Southeast,

800–292–4384, or Joe Russo at NLECTC–Rocky

Mountain, 800–416–8086.

[Editor’s note: In addition to serving as

Secretary of Corrections for the Commonwealth

of Pennsylvania, Martin Horn is vice chair of the

Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology

Advisory Council, which serves as an advisory

body to the NLECTC system.]

report by the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics statesthat the total prison population in the Nation grew to 1.3 million inmatesduring 1998; however, the 4.8-percent rise is less than the average annualgrowth of 6.7 percent since 1990. There are an additional 592,462 inmatesawaiting trial and serving short sentences in local jails. In 1998, there werean estimated 461 inmates sentenced to at least 1 year in prison for every

100,000 U.S. residents, which is 169 more inmates per 100,000 residents than in 1990.

Louisiana, Texas, and Oklahoma had the highest incarceration rates, whileMinnesota, Maine, and North Dakota had the lowest. Fourteen States have reported an increase of more than 75 percent in their prison populations since 1990, the reportsays. Four States—Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, and Massachusetts—had decreases in theirinmate populations. In 1998, the number of women incarcerated grew 6.5 percent,which is higher than the 4.7-percent increase of men incarcerated for the same year.Since 1990, the number of women in prison has increased 92 percent, while the num-ber of men has grown by only 67 percent, says the report. As of the end of 1997, blackmen and women were six times more likely than whites to receive prison sentences.Parole violations have increased 39 percent. Inmate release rates have dropped 6 per-cent since 1990, and 10 percent of inmates will serve more than 20 years in prison.

Because of the overall increase in inmates, State prisons are operating 13 percentto 22 percent over capacity, while Federal prisons are 27 percent over capacity, accord-ing to the report. California had the most crowded prison system in 1998, operating at 50 percent over capacity. Utah had the least crowded system, operating at just 81 percent capacity.

AA

(Bad Guys . . . cont. from page 1)

3

he sharing of information was cited

as the number one requirement of law

enforcement in a 1998 National Institute

of Justice (NIJ) counterterrorism needs

assessment. Unfortunately, in many

cases, information sharing among juris-

dictions can be hampered by technical deficiencies and

bureaucratic obstacles. Criminals take advantage of this

fact. They know that traveling just a short distance to an

adjoining county or municipality is oftentimes enough to

prevent their apprehension.

Information housed in one agency’s files can be of

immense value to another agency. Yet concerns over

privacy and a host of technical difficulties have made

sharing that information all but impossible.

Two Florida sheriff’s departments, however, are test-

ing a new technology that provides rapid access to a broad

range of local, State, and Federal information sources.

Broward and Monroe Counties are working with

the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE)

on the Information Technology (Infotech) initiative,

an NIJ project that allows officers at fixed or mobile

locations to enter queries and search databases in

other jurisdictions.

Information systems in the world of criminal jus-

tice vary considerably. With some systems, agencies

maintain their own databases with access only permit-

ted to authorized users. These systems are strong on

data update but may be weak on access because the

users have to learn to navigate each agency’s method

of “mining,” or retrieving, data. Other systems use a

centralized database to “warehouse” information. In

these systems participating agencies, including public

sources, can contribute data and can access it directly.

Although these systems are strong on access because

all users employ a common method, they may be weak

on housing current data because the warehouse

depends on contributors to update information.

The Infotech system is a suite of off-the-shelf soft-

ware products and NIJ-developed “middleware” that

offers more of an intermediate approach. (Middleware

is software that connects two otherwise separate

applications.) With Infotech, agencies can keep their

databases. The software instead provides users a

“single-searching method” that acts as a translator

between the investigator’s query and each database’s

specific access method. An investigator in any given

jurisdiction, therefore, will be able to access databases

in many other jurisdictions, but has to learn only one

search method. For example, Monroe and Broward

Counties have different database systems, and access

to either requires different ways of requesting informa-

tion. Infotech offers a user-friendly interface that can

be tailored to the needs of a particular user, but will

retrieve data quickly regardless of the design of the

information source. Thus, information compatibility

between multiple law enforcement agencies is

achieved without incurring the enormous expense of

replacing existing systems with a common system.

Infotech also solves the privacy and security

issues that are of concern to police agencies. These

issues are addressed through several layers of protec-

tion mechanisms, depending on the level of risk.

Encryption features that are commercially available in

Internet World Wide Web browsers are available and

provide a minimal level of access control. For very sen-

sitive data, such as ongoing law enforcement investiga-

tions, informant or witness case folders, and juvenile

information, much greater security restrictions can be

employed, including personnel identification numbers,

smart cards, or even biometric identification devices.

Of fundamental importance, however, is the fact

that local agencies continue to maintain and control

their own data in the same way they do now. Infotech

operates as an add-on layer to the agency’s existing

infrastructure without interfering with current

operations.

Infotech is built with open standards using

Internet technologies. Consequently, there are no per

user fees or restrictions on number of users. All that is

required is access to the Internet and a Web browser.

Each Infotech server is owned by the agency where it

is installed.

The Florida Infotech project uses the FDLE’s

Criminal Justice Network (CJ-Net), a statewide network

that is the backbone for communications among

approximately 500 Florida agencies. CJ-Net is managed

and maintained by the Florida Department of Law

Enforcement and provides open access and privileges

to any criminal justice agency, including the State’s

court and penitentiary systems.

The Infotech program originated in 1995 as part of

a multimillion-dollar collaborative technology develop-

ment effort by the Joint Program Steering Group of the

U.S. Departments of Defense and Justice. Integration of

advanced information systems, software mediation,

security, and communications technologies has been

performed by the Space and Naval Warfare Systems

Center (SPAWAR), a U.S. Navy engineering activity in

Charleston, South Carolina.

For more information concerning the Infotech

initiative, contact John Hoyt, Joint Program

Steering Group, 703–351–8487.

A Reach

ACROSS

A Reach

ACROSS

JURISDICTIONSJURISDICTIONS

TT

Image by Tim Teebken, Artville.

4

The National Law Enforcement and

Corrections Technology Center is

supported by Cooperative Agree-

ment #96–MU–MU–K011 awarded

by the U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute

of Justice. Analyses of test results do not represent

product approval or endorsement by the National

Institute of Justice, U.S. Department of Justice; the

National Institute of Standards and Technology,

U.S. Department of Commerce; or Aspen Systems

Corporation. Points of view or opinions contained

within this document are those of the authors and do

not necessarily represent the official position or poli-

cies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The National Institute of Justice is a component of

the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes

the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice

Statistics, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency

Prevention, and Office for Victims of Crime.

DEP

ARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OF

FIC

E

OF JUSTICE PRO

GR

AM

S

BJA

N

IJOJJ DP BJS

OV

C

From the DirectorLaw enforcement, courts, and corrections

officials and officers working in the field know

how crucial technology is to their day-to-day

operations. In some circumstances, having the

right tool can even mean the difference between

life and death.

The technological revolution that has swept

society as a whole in recent years has also affect-

ed the criminal justice system. Some technologies

that not long ago seemed advanced—vests that

can stop bullets and electronic monitoring of pro-

bationers—today seem commonplace. But the

revolution continues apace, with ever more

spectacular advances now being made, or in

the testing stages, or on the drawing board.

As the research arm of the U.S. Department

of Justice, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ)

has, since its founding 30 years ago, been in the

forefront in sponsoring the development, testing,

and demonstration of technology to improve the

justice system. The development of DNA testing

standards, soft body armor, and improved finger-

print evidence collection are some of the many

areas in which NIJ has played a leading role.

More recently, with strong support from

the Administration and the Congress, NIJ has

accelerated the pace of its efforts. Less-than-

lethal technologies to minimize the use of

force, computerized mapping to pinpoint and

analyze crime patterns, concealed weapons

detection to prevent violence, methods of stop-

ping fleeing vehicles to apprehend suspects,

and improvements in DNA laboratories to aid

in evidence testing—all these capabilities, and

others, are now being explored by NIJ. Their

application can mean even greater transforma-

tions in law enforcement operations.

TechBeat plays an important role as an

essential link communicating the latest informa-

tion about these developing technologies from

the National Law Enforcement and Corrections

Technology Center. By keeping law enforcement,

courts, and corrections personnel current about

the tools they can use, the newsletter makes a dif-

ference in controlling crime and ensuring justice.

Jeremy Travis

Director

National Institute of Justice

From the Director

“smart” disablement systems. These technolo-

gies, which operate in real time, will not only

keep bomb squads at safe distances, but will

enable technicians to make split-second deci-

sions, a crucial element when time may be run-

ning out. As disablement technology becomes

increasingly smarter, it will require technicians

to work more with their heads than their

hands, he says. “They will need to be more

academic in their approaches.”

Cherry is no stranger to the world of

bombs and explosives. His skills were put to

use a few years ago when the FBI requested his

assistance with a live bomb found inside Ted

Kaczynski’s cabin in Montana. Cherry, his co-

worker Rod Owenby,

and Riverside Police

bomb technician Vic

Poisson flew to

Montana during the

middle of the night.

Sgt. Steve Conner,

an 18-year veteran of

Houston’s bomb

squad and many

bomb squad confer-

ences, says that he

and three of his bomb

technicians have been

using the tools and

knowledge obtained

at Operation

Albuquerque, the

predecessor to

Operation Riverside,

which was held

in 1997. His team

considers Operation

Riverside and

Operation

Albuquerque

invaluable training

resources.

“Operation Riverside is the best training

available for advanced render-safe operations,”

Conner says. “It is a very realistic training envi-

ronment, and there are several new techniques

and technology applications that we tested and

will implement into our program.”

Also a member of the Houston squad, 13-

year veteran Officer Charles Berryman says

that the intense training scenarios are very

beneficial. He says that he also was impressed

with the new technologies that were intro-

duced and the inventions he saw in action.

“There was a lot of technology that I was

unaware of,” Berryman says. “It was an honor

to be invited and to participate in this training.

All of the information

that we have learned

helps to make render-

safe operations much

easier and safer for all of

our bomb techs.”

According to Cherry,

NIJ’s assistance keeps

the program at the front

of the latest advances in

technology and tech-

niques. He says that it is

important to continue to

provide training like

Operation Riverside to

bomb squads. “They

serve us, so why can’t we

serve them for a change

and help to make their

jobs a little safer.”

For more informa-

tion about Operation

Riverside, please contact

Jim Keller, National

Law Enforcement and

Corrections Technology

Center–Rocky Mountain,

800–416–8086.

“Operation Riverside

is the best training

available for advanced

render-safe operations.

. . . It is a very realistic

training environment,

and there are several

new techniques and

technology applica-

tions that we tested

and will implement

into our program.”

(Big Bangs . . . cont. from page 1)

Office of Law Enforcement Technology CommercializationWheeling, WV

Office of Law Enforcement StandardsGaithersburg, MD

NLECTC–Southeast Charleston, SC

NLECTC–NortheastRome, NY

Border Research and Technology CenterSan Diego, CA

NLECTC–West El Segundo, CA

NLECTC–Rocky Mountain Denver, CO

NLECTC–NationalRockville, MD

National Center forForensic ScienceOrlando, FL

5

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ), responding to recommendations by the

law enforcement and corrections community, converted its Technology Assessment

Program Information Center (TAPIC) into the National Law Enforcement and

Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) system. Created in 1994 as a component

of NIJ’s Office of Science and Technology, NLECTC’s goal, like that of NIJ, is to offer

support, research findings, and technological expertise to help State and local law

enforcement and corrections personnel do their jobs more safely and efficiently.

NIJ’s NLECTC system consists of facilities located across the country that are

colocated with an organization or agency that specializes in one or more specific

areas of research and development. Although each NLECTC facility has a different

technology focus, they work together to form a seamless web of support, technology

development, and information.

NLECTC–National2277 Research Boulevard • Rockville, MD 20850Phone: 800–248–2742 • Fax: 301–519–5149 • E-mail: asknlectc@nlectc.org

The National Center, located just 30 minutes north of Washington, D.C., is the

hub of the NLECTC system. It provides information and referral services to anyone with

a question about law enforcement and corrections equipment or technology. Its staff

manage the voluntary equipment standards and testing program that tests and verifies

the performance of body armor, metallic handcuffs, shotguns, and police vehicles and

tires. This office produces consumer product lists of equipment that meets a specific set

of performance standards and also operates JUSTNET (Justice Technology Information

Network), an Internet World Wide Web site that provides links to the entire NLECTC

system and other appropriate sites, as well as assistance to those seeking information

about equipment, technology, or research findings.

NLECTC–Northeast26 Electronic Parkway • Rome, NY 13441Phone: 888–338–0584 • Fax: 315–330–4315 • E-mail: nlectc_ne@rl.af.mil

NLECTC–Northeast is located at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Rome

Research Site (formerly Rome Laboratory), on the grounds of the Griffiss Business and

Technology Park. The center sponsors research and development efforts into technolo-

gies that address command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence. This

center draws on the expertise of Air Force scientists and engineers in its development

of technologies that can be used to detect weapons concealed on individuals, an effort

that is expected to yield stationary equipment for use in buildings and handheld

devices for field and patrol officers. Other areas of research and development include

through-the-wall sensors, audio processing, image processing, timeline analysis, com-

puter forensics, secure communications, and command/control.

NLECTC–Southeast5300 International Boulevard • North Charleston, SC 29418Phone: 800–292–4385 • Fax: 843–760–4611 • E-mail: nlectc-se@nlectc-se.org

Two of the focus areas of NLECTC–Southeast are corrections technologies and

surplus property acquisition and distribution for law enforcement and corrections. The

center facilitates the acquisition and redistribution of Federal surplus/excess property

to State and local law enforcement and corrections agencies. The equipment must be

used for law enforcement purposes only. Utilizing the JUSTNET Web site, the center

educates law enforcement and corrections professionals about Federal surplus and

purchasing programs. The efforts of NLECTC–Southeast have resulted in agencies

receiving equipment they would not ordinarily have access to or might not have been

able to afford due to budgetary constraints. This facility also studies the needs of cor-

rections agencies. It is guided in this mission by a committee of criminal justice, law

enforcement, and corrections practitioners that identifies requirements and sets priori-

ties for research and development. NLECTC–Southeast is allied with the South Carolina

Research Authority (SCRA) and the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWAR).

NLECTC–Southeast’s other areas of focus include information management and tech-

nologies, simulation training, and designated special projects.

NLECTC–Rocky Mountain2050 East Iliff Avenue • Denver, CO 80208Phone: 800–416–8086 or 303–871–2522 in the Denver area • Fax: 303–871–2500 • E-mail: nlectc@du.edu

Located at the University of Denver, NLECTC–Rocky Mountain focuses on communi-

cations interoperability and the difficulties that often occur when different agencies and

jurisdictions try to communicate with one another. This facility works with law enforce-

ment agencies, private industry, and national organizations to implement projects that

will identify and field test new technologies to help solve the problem of interoperabili-

ty. NLECTC–Rocky Mountain also houses the newly created Crime Mapping Technology

Center, the training and practical application arm of NIJ’s Crime Mapping Research

Center, which is staffed by NIJ social scientists and scholars who utilize crime analysis

research to improve police field operations and develop crime-mapping software for

small, medium, and large departments. The Rocky Mountain facility also conducts

research into ballistics and weapons technology, as well as information systems. Sandia

National Laboratories has been designated as a satellite of NLECTC–Rocky Mountain.

The laboratory works in partnership with NLECTC–Rocky Mountain and focuses on

technology for detecting and neutralizing explosive devices (Operation Albuquerque).

NLECTC–Westc/o The Aerospace Corporation • 2350 East El Segundo Boulevard • El Segundo, CA 90245–4691Phone: 888–548–1618 • Fax: 310–336–2227 • E-mail: nlectc@law-west.org

NLECTC–West is housed on the grounds of The Aerospace Corporation, a nonprofit

corporation that provides technical oversight and engineering expertise to the Air Force

and the U.S. Government on space technology and space security systems. NLECTC–West

draws on The Aerospace Corporation’s depth of knowledge and scientific expertise

to offer law enforcement and corrections the ability to analyze and enhance audio,

video, and photographic evidence. In cooperation with The Aerospace Corporation,

this NLECTC facility also has available an extensive array of analytic instrumentation

to aid in criminal investigations, such as a scanning electron microscope, an x-ray

microscope, and a mass spectrometer, all of which are used to process trace evidence.

Its other areas of expertise include computer architecture, data processing, communica-

tions systems, and identifying technologies to stop fleeing vehicles.

Border Research and Technology Center (BRTC)225 Broadway, Suite 740 • San Diego, CA 92101Phone: 888–656–BRTC (2782) • Fax: 888–660–BRTC (2782) • E-mail: brtcchrisa@aol.com

The Border Research and Technology Center works with the Immigration and

Naturalization Service, the U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Customs Service, the Office of

National Drug Control Policy, and the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California to

develop strategies and technologies that will facilitate control of the Southwest border. One

of its most recognized accomplishments has been the implementation of SENTRI (Secured

Electronic Network for Travelers’ Rapid Inspection). BRTC also works on joint ventures to

identify technologies that will stop fleeing vehicles and is currently participating in a

project to detect the heartbeats of people concealed in vehicles or other containers.

Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES)100 Bureau Drive, Stop 8102 • Gaithersburg, MD 20899–8102Phone: 301–975–2757 • Fax: 301–948–0978 • E-mail: oles@nist.gov

Supported by NIJ, the Office of Law Enforcement Standards applies science and

technology to the needs of the criminal justice community. While its major objective

is to develop minimum performance standards for equipment and technology, which

NIJ promulgates as voluntary national standards, OLES also undertakes studies leading

to the publication of technical reports and user guides. Its areas of research include

clothing, communications systems, emergency equipment, investigative aids, protective

equipment, security systems, vehicles, and weapons. It also develops measurement

methods for analytical techniques and standard reference materials for forensic scientists

and crime labs. Since the program began in 1971, OLES has coordinated the development of

nearly 200 standards, user guides, and advisory reports. Housed at the National Institute of

Standards and Technology, OLES works closely with NLECTC–National to conduct tests and

to guarantee the performance and quality of equipment used by police and corrections.

Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization (OLETC)Wheeling Jesuit University • 316 Washington Avenue • Wheeling, WV 26003Phone: 888–306–5382 • Fax: 304–243–2131 • E-mail: oletc@nttc.edu

The Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization, a program of NIJ, is located

at Wheeling Jesuit University. OLETC’s mission is to work with industry, manufacturers, and lab-

oratories to facilitate the commercialization of technologies for the law enforcement and

corrections marketplace. OLETC provides special services and assistance to innovators,

entrepreneurs, universities, Federal and other laboratories, and U.S. manufacturers nationwide in

commercializing technologies that will enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement and correc-

tions practitioners. A national partnership is being developed to provide a continual pipeline of

innovative products, concepts, and value-added services that will expedite the commercializa-

tion of new products and services needed for State and local law enforcement and corrections

communities. OLETC has directly assisted in commercializing several innovative products,

including the RoadSpike™, a novel vehicle-stopping device; Tiger Vision®, a special low-cost,

handheld night vision device; an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Training Kit; and the

Counterpoint Stab and Slash Protective Vest. OLETC has identified more than 70 additional emerg-

ing technologies and concepts that are currently being evaluated for possible commercialization.

National Center for Forensic ScienceUniversity of Central Florida • P.O. Box 162367 • Orlando, FL 32816–2367Phone: 407–823–6469 • Fax: 407–823–3162 • E-mail: natlctr@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu

The newest addition to the NLECTC system, this facility is housed in the University

of Central Florida and initially will focus on arson and explosives research. Its mission is

to conduct fundamental research into the basic nature of fire and explosion reactions,

provide the support to develop standard protocols for analyzing arson and explosion

debris, promote the use of electronic media to access and exchange information about

the forensic sciences, and provide educational opportunities to practicing professionals

and full-time students. This new facility will draw on the experience and expertise of the

university, which houses a forensic science program with an active research program,

as well as the Institute of Simulation and Training, which is currently exploring ways to

simulate explosive reactions to study various chemical processes.

The ‘Center System’

6

he National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has long believed

that one of the most vital aspects of its program is the

solicitation of ideas and suggestions from criminal

justice practitioners. It is this information that helps

form the framework of NIJ’s work. NIJ’s Office of

Science and Technology and its National Law

Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center (NLECTC) system

acquire this information through conferences, regional workshops,

and most especially through a series of advisory groups. These

groups are composed of representatives from all areas of law

enforcement, corrections, and the forensic sciences, and focus on

everything from operational technological needs to liability issues

and public acceptance of these new technologies.

One such group, the Law Enforcement and Corrections

Technology Advisory Council (LECTAC), serves as an advisory body

to the NLECTC system and recommends technology program priori-

ties. Because LECTAC’s members are also the end users of new tech-

nologies, they bring the day-to-day needs of police and corrections

officers to the forefront. As a result of their recommendations, NIJ is

able to bring in researchers, scientists, and engineers to address the

emerging needs of the law enforcement and corrections communities.

LECTAC’s current research priorities include the development

of technologies and research in the areas of concealed weapons

and contraband detection, vehicle stopping, enhanced DNA testing,

officer protection, less-than-lethal, information management, coun-

terterrorism, location and tracking, secure communications, and

noninvasive drug detection. Following are updates on several sample

projects that fall under these headings, many having both law

enforcement and corrections applications.

Concealed Weapons andContraband Detection

Body Cavity Screening System. Funded by

NIJ, this stationary screen system will help police and

corrections officers detect nonmetallic weapons and

contraband hidden in lower body cavities. The only

current methods of detecting such weapons and con-

traband are through conducting an invasive physical

inspection, which can place the officer at risk, or by

taking x-rays of the individual, which is expensive

and can pose health risks. The system uses simplified

magnetic resonance imaging (or MRI, which was

developed for the medical community) as a noninva-

sive alternative to x-rays and physical body cavity

searches. Plans for testing the device on human sub-

jects are underway; an operational system suitable

for demonstration and assessment is slated for this

year. For additional information, contact Dr. Peter

Nacci, project manager, 703–351–8821.

Handheld Acoustic System. NIJ is funding the

development of an inexpensive, handheld device that

alerts officers to the potential presence of a weapon

at a greater distance than metal detectors currently

in use. The device will use acoustic technology to

detect metallic and nonmetallic weapons concealed

under an individual’s clothing. A preliminary model

has been demonstrated. It successfully detected a

plastic knife concealed under a heavy sweatshirt at a

distance of 7 feet. Prototypes have been delivered to

NIJ for assessment prior to demonstration to law

enforcement agencies. For more information, contact

Dr. Peter Nacci, project manager, 703–351–8821.

Handheld Wide-Band Radar. With sponsorship

from NIJ, this concealed weapons detection project

focuses on using low-power, wide-band radar, com-

bined with an artificial neural network, to detect both

metallic and nonmetallic weapons. The radar used in

this project is of such low power that it poses no

health hazard to those being scanned or to the individ-

ual doing the scanning. The advantages of using low-

power, wide-band radar are that it has twice the range

of other technologies currently in development and

is one of the least expensive. It does, however, have

a lower resolution that may result in a less accurate

picture. A preliminary system is being tested; develop-

ment of a prototype system and demonstration is

planned for early 2000. Contact Dr. Peter Nacci, project

manager, 703–351–8821, for additional information.

Portable Millimeter Wave Radar. NIJ is spon-

soring the development of a handheld portable con-

cealed weapons detector that uses a short-range,

94GhZ, active millimeter wave radar to detect both

metallic and nonmetallic weapons. While this tech-

nology has a shorter detection range than the wide-

band radar technology and is more expensive, it has

the potential for higher resolution and greater accu-

racy. The developer has successfully demonstrated a

preliminary system and is currently adapting it for a

portable configuration. Originally, the detector was to

be capable of scanning at a distance of up to 4 feet; it

now appears to be accurate up to about 20 feet. For

more information, contact Dr. Peter Nacci, project

manager, 703–351–8821.

Vehicle-Mounted Weapons Detector. This NIJ

project focuses on development of a magnetic detec-

tor that can be mounted to the front of a patrol car.

The detector would enable an officer to determine

whether a subject is carrying a weapon without leav-

ing his or her vehicle. The detector will allow officers

to screen individuals for concealed weapons made of

metal, such as handguns and knives. The detector

will utilize a five-axis magnetic gradiometer to scan a

subject at a range of about 15 feet. A successful

proof-of-principle demonstration has been conduct-

ed, showing that the technology can detect metallic

objects at a range of 10 to 15 feet from the system in

a magnetically cluttered environment. For additional

information, contact Dr. Peter Nacci, project manager,

703–351–8821.

Less-Than-LethalUPDATE: Laser Dazzler™. Ten prototypes of

the Laser Dazzler have been delivered to the U.S. Air

Force Research Laboratory (USAFRL) for eye safety

and effectiveness assessment. This project ultimately

will yield a device that uses random, flashing, green

laser light to disorient and distract a subject. The

prototypes resemble a flashlight, with an overall

length of 24 inches and a weight of 4.8 pounds.

USAFRL testing will determine whether the device is

safe to use on humans. Data derived from the assess-

ment will go to NIJ, which will determine whether to

fund modifications to the device or to fund demon-

stration and evaluation by police and corrections

agencies. This project is being funded through a joint

partnership of NIJ and the Defense Advanced

Research Projects Agency. Contact Sandy Newett,

project manager, 202–616–1471, for more information.

CounterterrorismBomb Robots. In collaboration with the

Technical Support Working Group (TSWG), NIJ is

sponsoring an assessment and demonstration of the

state-of-the-art in bomb robots. The results of this

effort will be used to develop a research and develop-

ment plan that addresses current technology short-

falls. For additional information, contact Dr. Peter

Nacci, project manager, 703–351–8821.

Explosive Diagnostics and Disruption. This

project joins NIJ, TSWG, and the Federal Bureau of

Investigation (FBI) in a nationwide demonstration and

evaluation of improved diagnostic systems for explo-

sive devices. The first technology being evaluated

is the RTR-3, developed under TSWG auspices. The

RTR-3 is a computer-based, portable x-ray system

that enables the diagnosis of explosive devices in real

time. It also enables the transmission of x-ray images

of those devices, via modem, to remote experts for

analysis. The Naval Surface Warfare Center, Indian

Head Division, and the Naval Office of Special

Technology are also supporting the project. The

FBI has distributed the RTR-3 to 28 State and local

agencies throughout the Nation; training is ongoing.

Contact Dr. Peter Nacci, project manager,

703–351–8821, for more information.

Officer ProtectionChem-Bio Exposure. One of the needs identi-

fied in a 1997 NIJ study was the development of a

wearable device that would indicate exposure to

a variety of chemical and biological hazards. In

response to this need, NIJ has undertaken an effort to

develop and demonstrate a wearable device that will

alert an individual of his/her exposure to hazardous

chemical and biological agents with sufficient warn-

ing that protective measures can be taken. The initial

result will be a number of prototypes for practitioner

evaluation. NIJ currently is working with the develop-

er to add a visual alert feature. A prototype personal

alarm monitor is expected to be available for evalua-

tion this year. For more information, contact Dr. Peter

Nacci, project manager, 703–351–8821.

TT

7

ow do law enforcement agencies

know when their computer-aided

dispatch (CAD) systems are outdat-

ed or their records management

systems need upgrading?

When progress is sometimes measured in inches,

how do law enforcement and corrections keep up

when technology is progressing at the speed of light?

Some departments are lucky. Some have that

guy, that “techie” on staff with the right experience

and knowledge. But more often than not, there is no

such qualified person.

Because law enforcement and corrections

often do not have the luxury of a staff skilled in

selecting and applying information technology,

the National Institute of Justice’s National Law

Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center

(NLECTC)–Southeast has undertaken a project to

develop a set of recommendations to help agencies

assess where they are in information management,

where they want to be, and how to get there.

According to Bill Deck, project manager at

NLECTC–Southeast, in order to establish the knowl-

edge base on which this set of recommendations is

to be built, Center staff conducted indepth studies

at several agencies—receiving a thorough educa-

tion in the varied ways information flows through

the criminal justice system. Technical experts from

NLECTC–Southeast assessed the systems of the

Aiken County, South Carolina, Sheriff’s Department,

as well as those of police departments in Normal,

Illinois; Mount Pleasant and Charleston, South

Carolina; and Utica, New York.

“Our first task was to get a clear understand-

ing of each agency’s operations,” Deck says. “This

meant we interviewed everyone involved in pro-

cessing information, from records personnel and

patrol officers to telecommunicators, supervisors,

investigators, and the chief. Technologists should

never work in a vacuum. They have to understand

what law enforcement needs. And only after exten-

sive listening and observing, Southeast Center

personnel were able to produce process maps

showing the current state of information flow and

how it could be streamlined and improved.”

“We turned the department completely over to

them. We invited them to talk to anyone they want-

ed to,” Maj. Coleman Knight of South Carolina’s

Mount Pleasant Police Department (MPPD) says.

“When they were done, the charts they gave us

showed how cumbersome our system really was.”

MPPD’s information system ran on a computer

with programming that dated back to 1987.

Although the department gradually updated the

system and added software modules, it bogged

down when the department tried to implement a

field-reporting program.

“It was too complicated, the transfer took too

long, the receiver program got backlogged, and it

could take an hour for the system to import infor-

mation,” Knight says. “But a wholesale upgrade

would have been enormously expensive.”

Instead, MPPD called in NLECTC–Southeast,

which suggested replacing the CAD and records

management systems. Center staff also gave the

department recommendations on network infra-

structure, minimum configurations for mobile

computing, and a step-by-step process for putting

a new system in place.

“They showed us how we could start with a

base system and go forward from there,” Knight

says. “Instead of trying to get it all done at one

time—we’re talking about a $2 million price tag on a

$500,000 budget—they gave us general system and

software requirements that would get us started.”

The assessment for Illinois’ Normal Police

Department (NPD) involved tying the agency’s CAD

system into an ongoing countywide project to link

the databases of public safety, courts, and correc-

tions. One goal of the project was to cut the 16 to

18 separate entries required for one case to a sin-

gle point of entry. That information would then link

to every facet of the McLean County, Illinois, crimi-

nal justice system.

By bringing in outside experts, the project

received an objectivity that typically is not avail-

able when agencies rely solely on vendor informa-

tion, says NPD’s Assistant Chief Gary Speers.

“Several years ago we did not have technical

people on staff. Consequently we had to rely on

the experts supplied by the vendor, who really

wanted to sell us the vendor’s products. But they

[NLECTC–Southeast] had no ties to vendors, no

ties to local businesses, and no political axes to

grind. They gave us an outside opinion about what

we already thought was the case.

“It’s one thing for us as practitioners to say

something isn’t working right. It’s another for an

expert to show us specifically what our problems

are and to confirm that our current system is never

going to do what we want it to do,” Speers adds.

According to Capt. Bryan Oliver of

the Aiken County, South

Carolina, Sheriff’s

Department, his

agency was

struggling with separate CAD and records manage-

ment systems that could not talk to each other.

Processing information was a tedious, awkward

task. The systems also did not convert legacy data

and were not National Incident-Based Reporting

System compliant.

Oliver says that although NLECTC–Southeast

personnel came in after the county’s communica-

tions upgrade project was already underway, their

assessment and recommendations put the lan-

guage of technology in simple, uncomplicated

terms. “With their assistance, even those of us who

did not have any technical knowledge were able to

understand the process. They made it easy for us

to see which tasks would be more efficient with a

computer and which ones should be done manual-

ly. It helped us see how we could make a computer

work for us, instead of us working for the computer.”

According to Deck, the final result of the

assessment project will be a set of recommenda-

tions for selecting and applying information tech-

nology. “Any agency,” he says, “will be able to use

these recommendations to better understand inter-

operability issues, new technologies and what

these technologies will and won’t do, and how they

can begin to plan for an upgrade.”

Deck, who has been involved in every step of

the information technology assessment project,

adds, “Will the recommendations be a cure-all?

No. But will they give agencies a starting point?

Absolutely. That’s all we’re trying to do, give law

enforcement and corrections a roadmap showing

how to bring in new technologies. In the end, we

hope they’ll have more efficient and effective

systems.”

For more details regarding information

technology initiatives sponsored by the

National Law Enforcement and Corrections

Technology Center–Southeast, contact Bill

Deck, 800–292–4385.

HH

Photo by Corbis Images.

8

AboutTechBeat

TechBeat is the award-winning flagship publication of theNational Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) system. Our goal is to keep you up to date on tech-nologies currently being developed by the NLECTC system, as

well as other research and development efforts within theFederal Government and private industry. TechBeat is pub-lished four times a year. Managing Editor, Rick Neimiller;

Contributing Editor/Writer, Lois Pilant.

Individual Subscriptions: TechBeat is available at no cost. If you are not currently on our mailing list or need to change your mailing label information, please call us at 800–248–2742, or e-mail us at asknlectc@nlectc.org.

Department Subscriptions: If your division, department, or agency has more than 25 individu-als, we can drop ship as many copies as you require. All you have to do is provide us with the quantity needed,a shipping address (no post office boxes, please), and a contact name and telephone number. Your only obligationis to disseminate them once they arrive. If you require fewer than 25 copies, please provide us with the namesand addresses of individuals who are to receive the newsletter and we will send their copies directly to them.Contact Rick Neimiller, TechBeat managing editor, at 800–248–2742, for additional information or to subscribe.

Article Reproduction: Unless otherwise indicated, all articles appearing in TechBeat may be repro-duced.We do, however, request that you include a statement of attribution, such as: “This article taken from theFall 1999 issue of TechBeat, published by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center, aprogram of the National Institute of Justice, 800–248–2742.”

Photos: We are always on the lookout for good-quality photographs that depict the many aspects of thelaw enforcement, corrections, and forensic sciences communities and illustrate the tasks and situations they faceon a daily basis. Photos should either be in color print or color slide format. Prints should preferably be 5 inchesby 7 inches or larger. Duplicate prints/slides made from the originals—and not the originals themselves—shouldbe sent, as we cannot accept responsibility for prints/slides that may be damaged or lost. Appropriate credit willbe given to contributing photographers when their work is published. Please include your name and daytimetelephone number when submitting any photographs. Contact Rick Neimiller, TechBeat managing editor, at800–248–2742 for additional information.

Questions/Comments/Story Ideas: We welcome all questions, comments, and story ideas.Please contact Rick Neimiller, TechBeat managing editor, at 800–248–2742, or e-mail to rneimiller@nlectc.org.

June 7–10, 2000

Denver Tech Center Marriott, Denver, Colorado

Building on the success of the 1998 Atlanta and 1999 Orlandoconferences, this year’s National Institute of Justice technologyconference in Denver will bring together law enforcement, fire,and EMS personnel and other first responders. Participants willsee the latest tools and technologies available for critical inci-dent response and management and hear from domestic andinternational practitioners and experts on lessons learned in theuse of technology to respond to terrorist incidents and to otherthreats to public safety.

Conference on Technologies for Public Safety in Critical Incident Response

Registration: To receive more information or to register, call Lisa Hecker, 703–625–1489, or access JUSTNET at www.nlectc.org.

Sign Up To Receive Free Reports From the

National Criminal JusticeReference Service

In addition to funding the National Law Enforcement

and Corrections Technology Center, NIJ supports the

National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS), an

international clearinghouse on crime and justice informa-

tion. NCJRS staff respond to reference questions, provide

referrals to other resources, distribute NIJ and other

Office of Justice Programs (OJP) documents, and maintain

a mailing list of more than 45,000 registered users. In addi-

tion, NCJRS sponsors the NIJ Criminal Justice Conference

Calendar at http://www.ncjrs.org/calendar, which lists

conferences and meetings of interest to the criminal jus-

tice community. If you are interested in signing up for the

NCJRS mailing list, you may request a registration form

using any of the following methods:

Fax-on-Demand. Dial 800–851–3420, select option 1,

then option 2. The registration form is #1 on the docu-

ment index. The form will be faxed to you immediately.

Fax. You may fax your request for a registration

form to 410–792–4358. You will receive a form promptly

in the mail.

E-mail. Send an e-mail to askncjrs@ncjrs.org and

request a registration form. It will be sent to you in

the mail.

Write. Send a written request to NCJRS, P.O. Box 6000,

Rockville, MD 20849–6000.

Call. You may call an NCJRS information specialist

and request a registration form. The number is

800–851–3420.

As a registered user, you will receive the bimonthly

NCJRS Catalog, the quarterly NIJ Journal, and selected

reports based on your criminal justice interests. For more

information about NIJ and NCJRS, visit their Web sites:

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij and http://www.ncjrs.org.

Photo copyright © Photos To Go 1999.

Photo by Danny Hart, Aspen Systems Corp.

9

◆ Information on new technologies, equip-ment, and other products and services availableto law enforcement, corrections, and the crimi-nal justice communities, including access to adatabase of more than 4,000 available productsand technologies.

◆ Online News Summary includes articleabstracts on law enforcement, corrections, andforensics technologies that have appeared inmajor national newspapers, magazines, andperiodicals and on national and internationalwire services and Web sites.

◆ Publications from NIJ and NLECTC that youcan view or download to your system.

◆ Interactive Topic Boards that allow you topost questions and exchange information withhundreds of professionals in their specialty areas.

◆ Frequently Asked Questions that offerdetailed information based on thousands ofcalls to our information specialists.

◆ Calendar of Events that lists the latestupcoming meetings, seminars, and training.

◆ Links to other important law enforcement and corrections Web sites.

www.nlectc.orgwww.nlectc.org

For help in establishing an Internet connection, linking to JUSTNET,or finding needed technology and product information,

call the NLECTC Information Hotline at 800–248–2742.

= Printed= Online = Video

Image by Barton Stabler,Artville.

Publication images copyright © 1999 PhotoDisc, Inc., unless otherwise indicated.

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The following publications/videos are available from the NationalLaw Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center–National:

2000 Model Year Police Vehicle Evaluation Program. This report pro-

vides complete data on test results from the Michigan State Police’s

annual evaluation of patrol vehicles, including summary charts.

Michigan State Police Tests 2000 Patrol Vehicles. This bulletin summa-

rizes the test results from the Michigan State Police’s annual evaluation

of “police-package” and “special-service” patrol vehicles.

AutoBid 2000. AutoBid software is designed to help police fleet adminis-

trators select the patrol vehicle that is best suited to the needs of their

department. The system is based on vehicle performance data for police

patrol package models published annually by the Michigan State Police.

Keeping Track of Electronic Monitoring. This bulletin gives an indepth

look at current and upcoming home monitoring devices, system compo-

nents, buy/lease factors and options, and recommendations for establish-

ing an electronic monitoring program.

1999 Mock Prison Riot Video. This videotape features technologies

used to quell a mock prison riot staged by the National Institute of

Justice’s Office of Law Enforcement Technology Commercialization.

Emerging technologies were incorporated into training scenarios to

demonstrate the latest crimefighting technologies.

TechBeat, Fall 1999. Articles feature the Weapons Team Engagement

Trainer, a high-tech simulation system; a weapons detector being used at

the Bannock County Courthouse in Pocatello, Idaho; FALCON, a software

program to alert officers to crime trends in the community; and the use

of videotaping systems in police vehicles.

New Publications/VideosThe following publications/videos will be available soon:

Office of Justice Programs Technology Resource Guide. This first-of-

its-kind resource guide delivers valuable information on law enforcement

and corrections technology programs and activities of the U.S. Department

of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs, including available technologies;

funding sources and demonstration programs; equipment standards,

testing, and evaluation; current research and development initiatives;

and training.

National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center

Publications Catalog 2000. This document provides a listing of NLECTC

and other government publications of interest to law enforcement, cor-

rections, and forensic science practitioners. Categories include communi-

cations, forensics, less-than-lethal weapons, protective equipment, and

weapons and ammunition.

NLECTC Tests Autoloading Pistols for Law Enforcement Use. This bul-

letin summarizes test data and results from NLECTC’s recent evaluation

of 24 models of autoloading pistols in accordance with NIJ Standard-

0112.03 (Revision A). It also includes the Autoloading Pistol Consumer

Product List (CPL), which lists all models that were tested and found to

comply with the requirements of the NIJ Standard.

Equipment Performance Report: Autoloading Pistols for Law

Enforcement Use. This report provides a complete listing of the test

data obtained during NLECTC’s recent evaluation of autoloading pistols

to determine their compliance with NIJ Standard-0112.03 (Revision A).

The report contains test results and data from 24 models of autoloading

pistols, provided by nine manufacturers.

To obtain any of the above publications or videotapes or to receive

additional copies of the TechBeat newsletter, write NLECTC, P.O.

Box 1160, Rockville, MD 20849–1160; telephone 800–248–2742.

Publications can also be downloaded from JUSTNET at

www.nlectc.org.

9