Focus on Technology

Law Enforcement Web Sites
New Utility for a New Era
By Clyde B. Eisenberg, M.S., and Brandon Porter

I flaw enforcement administrators were asked 10 yeara ago what role they thought the Internet would play in their agency’s operation in the future, the response may have been “what’s the Internet?” This once obscure medium, originally designed for researchers to communicate more effectively, has evolved into a communications staple for households and businesses. Recent surveys indicate that more than 153 million Americans currently use the Internet.¹

The Law Enforcement Web Site Evolves
     While most historians measure time in decades or centuries, the evolution of law enforcement’s involvement with the Internet is only a few years old. One part of a police department’s role in society is to provide various types of information to its citizens. For many years, law enforcement agencies have relied on traditional means of disseminating information. These standard proven methods include public service spots that appear on network and public access cable television, in newspaper articles, at displays at local fairs and expos, and in an agency's annual report.With the advent of the law enforcement Web site, agencies now can add a valuable information resource and public relations tool to that list. Even those individuals who do not own a computer or have Internet service usually can get access at their workplace, local libraries, or other nonprofit public resources. In addition to the public relations benefits, agencies can garner widespread utility from a well-crafted Web site, which now can include information ranging from crime statistics to employment opportunities.

Going On-line with a Web Site
     Regardless of an agency’s size, it must follow several basic steps when creating a Web site. First, an agency must identify and understand what resources are available to it in the process. When developing new sites, agencies should remember that they should custom design their Web pages to meet their specific requirements. An agency must select a host