Florida as a Role Model

Florida has successful implemented a tool that could be very useful for public safety in New York City. This tool is called FCIC II System (Florida Crime Information Center). Criminal justice agencies are able to locate and update information electronically about Florida's criminals and criminal activity. For whatever reason, the justice system is a little bit behind on moving from paper-based systems to electronic-based systems. I've come up with a few reasons why this could be true:

• Fear that systems could be hacked and sensitive information compromised
• Lack of funding to implement
• Resistance to change in a bureaucratic environment

I would like to comment on each of these possible reasons I have come up with. First, there is definitely always a chance that electronic systems can be hacked into. However, I would argue that the benefits from moving to an electronically based system far outweighs the chances of data being compromised. This goes back to what I wrote about awhile back. Our country is too reactive. We should implement electronic systems AND put in necessary controls to hopefully eliminate (or at least reduce) the chances of being hacked.

Second, although justice agencies are governmental agencies, private investors are likely willing to invest in implementing electronic based systems. Thus, they can be funded jointly from the government as well as from private investors.

Finally, resistance to change is just something I could argue about for days. Having interned in big corporate environments I've seen how difficult it is to make any changes to solidified practices. This is something that needs to be changed across the board in all large environments, from the government to large public companies. Until resistance is conquered, people will be stuck in their ways eternally. We shouldn't have to wait for the older generation to leave the workforce to implement the tools we already have waiting for us to use at our fingertips. The problem that many of the older generations have with technology is distinguishing the role of technology as a business tool from the role of technology as a form of entertainment. I'm not saying that all businesses should have pages on social networking sites, islands on SecondLife, and replace reports with blogs. I'm simply saying we need to focus on how technology plays a role in business strategy and I think the only way to do this is to emphasize the difference between the two.

So back to the public safety side...if we could only get past these roadblocks (the fear of being hacked and resistance to change), I argue we could have much safer streets in New York City. And if not, well at least we can increase the efficiency of our justice systems and improve the quality of life (and work balance) of those working in the justice system.