Social Networking for Law Enforcement PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 08 November 2010 17:18
Source: National Law Enforcement & Corrections Tech Center

Searching for ways to improve community relations and expedite information to the public, law enforcement agencies are turning to social networking sites.

Police departments use the sites to rapidly communicate directly to citizens, providing such information as suspect descriptions, crime alerts, road closings, missing child and person alerts, dangerous weather conditions and traffic accidents.

People voluntarily reveal details of their lives on social networking sites, which can serve law enforcement well.  Sites such as Facebook® and MySpace™ can be used by law enforcement to obtain information about suspects, for example, involvement in gang activity. Photos or videos of suspects can be posted as well. Sites such as You-Tube™ are being used to foster police recruitment.

Citizen subscribers to sites such as Twitter™ and Nixle can automatically receive police department information via text message, e-mail or by logging on to those sites.