Civic Apps: Can They Help Fight Crime?
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In 2013, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel unveiled the police department’s latest application programming interface called ClearMap, used to handle anything from wanted lists and mug shots through graffiti problems to vacant building code violations and much more. Since then, there has been a wave of apps that Chicagoans can use to track crime and improve public safety, according to Smart Chicago, an online civic organization that uses technology to improve life in the Windy City.
This has prompted others, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to sponsor mobile apps such as Beacon, which lets an injured or lost person in an emergency situation send out a preconfigured distressed notice to anyone designated as a recipient. A second companion app sends out continuous updates on the location of the individual in trouble.
In Redlands, Calif., city officials have worked with software firm Cityworks to incorporate a mobile civic engagement app called CitySourced that can act as service request tool for residents. The city sees CitySourced as a rapid first step toward an eventual 311 call center that would allow residents to report problems and complaints. The app could also be leveraged by the Redlands Police Department as a tool for monitoring illegally parked cars.
In Philadelphia, the city’s 2012 Code for America fellowship led to the creation of Textizen, another type of mobile messaging platform for public safety, law enforcement and criminal justice agencies that helps them access, analyze and track difficult-to-reach population groups.
Last year, the Virginia State Police launched a crime reporting app called See Something, Send Something. It is known as a suspicious activity reporting tool and was created by My Mobile Witness to connect individuals, law enforcement agencies and regional fusion centers, which collect and analyze intelligence on criminals and terrorists.
