Chapter Fifteen Tracking Surveillance

Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal Justice, Raymond E. Foster

Police TechnologyPolice TechnologyChapter FifteenChapter Fifteen

Tracking and SurveillanceTracking and Surveillance


Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Understand the difference between Understand the difference between passivepassive surveillance and surveillance and interactiveinteractive surveillancesurveillance

Explore techniques for tracking Explore techniques for tracking vehiclesvehicles

Explore using technology to hear or Explore using technology to hear or watch offenderswatch offenders


Surveillance DefinedSurveillance DefinedAs sustainedAs sustained

observations of an observations of an

offender, a group of offender, a group of

offenders, or a offenders, or a location. location.

Passive – just Passive – just watchingwatching

Interactive – Interactive – interacting with the interacting with the offenderoffender


Fourth Amendment IssuesFourth Amendment Issues

Anything someone does in Anything someone does in publicpublic is open to surveillance without is open to surveillance without court order. court order.

Anything that goes on that would Anything that goes on that would be be reasonably visible from the reasonably visible from the streetstreet is open to surveillance is open to surveillance without a warrant without a warrant (Plain Sight (Plain Sight Doctrine)Doctrine)


Tracking VehiclesTracking Vehicles

Used in Used in criminal investigationscriminal investigations in three in three

manners: manners: When the When the policepolice install a tracking install a tracking

device on an offender’s vehicle. device on an offender’s vehicle. When you have a tracking device on When you have a tracking device on

your personal vehicle and it is stolen. your personal vehicle and it is stolen. When the When the policepolice follow a vehicle in follow a vehicle in

person person


Consumer installed Automatic Consumer installed Automatic Vehicle Locator Vehicle Locator

System is activated and reports System is activated and reports to a central location. to a central location. Vendor contacts Vendor contacts policepolice.. Vendor supplies the location of the Vendor supplies the location of the

vehicle to the vehicle to the policepolice. .


Two types of ConsumerTwo types of Consumerinstalled AVL:installed AVL:

Locating technology is installed Locating technology is installed in a in a policepolice vehicle. System is vehicle. System is activated and activated and policepolice receive receive signal and search for the vehicle signal and search for the vehicle using technology installed in the using technology installed in the policepolice vehicle. vehicle.


Covert TrackingCovert Tracking

Installing a Installing a device ON the device ON the vehicle, usually vehicle, usually on the on the undercarriage. undercarriage.

Vehicle must be Vehicle must be parked on a parked on a public street. public street.

Photograph provided by SpektraTek Law Enforcement Technologies


Covert TrackingCovert Tracking

Installing a device Installing a device IN the vehicle IN the vehicle using using requires a requires a warrantwarrant because because you are entering you are entering the vehiclethe vehicle


Tracking Electronic Tracking Electronic CommunicationsCommunications

Cellular Cellular transmissions can transmissions can be tracked by be tracked by having the cellular having the cellular provider forward provider forward real-time real-time information on the information on the cell sites the device cell sites the device is using. is using.

Requires a court Requires a court order. order.

Screen Capture provided by Pen-Link™Screen Capture provided by Pen-Link™


Photo Red LightPhoto Red Light

Sensors, usually Sensors, usually under the pavement, under the pavement, are coordinated with are coordinated with the traffic signal. the traffic signal. Anyone entering the Anyone entering the intersection after the intersection after the red light is detected red light is detected and photographed.and photographed.


Photo Red LightPhoto Red Light

Photographic traffic enforcement systems Photographic traffic enforcement systems

(photo red light) use one of three types (photo red light) use one of three types of of

film: film: Industrial quality 35mm film (most Industrial quality 35mm film (most

common)common) Digital cameras (digital images)Digital cameras (digital images) Video cameras – allow for real-time Video cameras – allow for real-time

transmission of images. transmission of images.


Police In-car VideoPolice In-car Video

Video recording devices offer Video recording devices offer visual visual

documentation of an event. documentation of an event.

LimitationsLimitations: : Must be operating 24/7, in all Must be operating 24/7, in all

weather, in all conditions - weather, in all conditions - ruggedizedruggedized

Storage, record keeping, Storage, record keeping, duration of tapesduration of tapes

What to record, when, how What to record, when, how long? long?


Videotapes are analog. Videotapes are analog. DVD’s are DVD’s are digitaldigital. . Digital Video Cassettes (DVCs)Digital Video Cassettes (DVCs)

can contain more information can contain more information than analog videotapes and are than analog videotapes and are smaller, but you still have lots of smaller, but you still have lots of small tapes. Storage? Records? small tapes. Storage? Records?

Police In-car VideoPolice In-car Video


Closed-Circuit TelevisionClosed-Circuit Television

CCTV is CCTV is noncommercial noncommercial video recordings video recordings that are that are broadcast on a broadcast on a private network private network (e.g., (e.g., convenience convenience stores). stores).

Top 3 uses of Top 3 uses of CCTV: CCTV:

Investigative Investigative Evidence Evidence

documentationdocumentation Crime Crime

reductionreduction


Closed-Circuit TelevisionClosed-Circuit Television

Top 3 uses of Top 3 uses of CCTV: CCTV:

Investigative Investigative Evidence Evidence

documentationdocumentation Crime Crime

reductionreductionPhotograph provided by SpektraTek Law Enforcement Technologies


Uses of CCTV Uses of CCTV

Photographic traffic enforcementPhotographic traffic enforcement In-car camera systems (police In-car camera systems (police

cars or cars or bait cars) bait cars) Surveillance of public placesSurveillance of public places Covert surveillance operationsCovert surveillance operations


Uses of CCTVUses of CCTV

Some CCTV system Some CCTV system are portable, while are portable, while others are others are hardwired into hardwired into vehicles and vehicles and locations.locations. The choice of type The choice of type

of system affects of system affects capabilities and is capabilities and is usually dictated by usually dictated by budget and missionbudget and mission

Photograph provided by Pyramid Vision Technologies

Photograph provided by SpektraTek Law Enforcement Technologies


Body WiresBody Wires

Audio devices that can be secreted Audio devices that can be secreted on a person. on a person.

Used during interactive surveillance Used during interactive surveillance especially undercover capacity. No especially undercover capacity. No warrant or court order is required. warrant or court order is required.

Consists of a transmitter, power Consists of a transmitter, power source, and antenna. source, and antenna.


Night Vision DevicesNight Vision Devices

Night vision technology consists Night vision technology consists ofof

two major types: two major types: Light amplification imaging Light amplification imaging

(intensification) (intensification) Thermal imaging (infrared)Thermal imaging (infrared)


Light amplificationLight amplification

Takes small amount of light from Takes small amount of light from surrounding areasurrounding area

Converts protons into electronsConverts protons into electrons Directs electrons through disk Directs electrons through disk

channelschannels Electrons bounce around and release Electrons bounce around and release

more energymore energy


Thermal ImagingThermal Imaging

Imagers take infrared Imagers take infrared light (heat) and focus light (heat) and focus it on light detectorsit on light detectors

Detectors create a Detectors create a thermogram thermogram (pattern)(pattern)

Imager converts info Imager converts info to electrical data and to electrical data and creates an image. creates an image.

Photograph provided by ITT Industries


Video EvidenceVideo Evidence

There are other sources of video There are other sources of video evidence besides CCTV at a crime evidence besides CCTV at a crime locationlocation

ATM machinesATM machines Gas stationsGas stations Post officesPost offices Parking LotsParking Lots


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Chapter Fifteen Tracking Surveillance