Technology plays a critical and increasingly important role in the daily work of law enforcement officers in the field, equipping them with enforcement and investigative tools that make them safer, better informed, and more effective and efficient. When properly deployed and managed, these technologies create new opportunities to enhance public safety in communities nationwide. Many communities around the nation, however, have or are considering limiting or even rejecting the use of some of these technologies, including automated license plate readers, unmanned aerial systems and video surveillance systems. In order to fully realize the value of the array of technological advances, it is imperative that law enforcement executives develop and enforce policies that govern planning, implementation, training, deployment, use and management of law enforcement technologies and the information they provide.

To help law enforcement executives create effective policies, the IACP has released the IACP Technology Policy Framework. The Framework highlights important factors to take into account when deciding whether to incorporate and integrate certain technologies. More importantly, it identifies nine universal principles that should be considered when developing agency policies:

• Specification of Use;
• Policies and Procedures;
• Privacy and Data Quality;
• Data Minimization and Limitation;
• Performance Evaluation;
• Transparency and Notice;
• Security;
• Data Retention, Access, and Use; and,
• Auditing and Accountability.

In addition to the nine universal principles, the Framework provides structural guidance for the development of policies and procedures that ensure the public that their privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties are recognized and protected.

For more information about the IACP Technology Policy Framework, click here.