Criminalytics

With over 350,000 cold case homicides in the U.S., law enforcement agencies face an urgent need for innovative solutions. Enter eSleuth AI, a groundbreaking tool poised to transform criminal investigations. Powered by its Police Future Methods (PFM) AI platform, eSleuth uses advanced data analysis to generate actionable leads, drastically reducing the time spent on cases. Described as like having “a…

In response to rising crime rates along Boulevard in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, a Knightscope autonomous surveillance robot has hit the streets. The robot, standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 420 pounds, patrols independently, scanning for anomalies and reporting them to a security operations center. Designed to deter crime, the robot has already become a significant presence in…

Connecticut police are speeding up investigations with rapid DNA testing, a game-changer introduced in 2021. Unlike traditional DNA tests, which can take up to 47 days, rapid DNA machines deliver results in under two hours. These devices have already played a crucial role in cases like a violent car parts theft in Farmington, where DNA from a surgical mask and…

San Diego’s reintroduced Smart Streetlight and Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technologies are making a real difference, aiding police in solving 229 criminal cases and making 166 arrests in 2024 alone. From recovering 163 stolen vehicles to arresting a suspect in a double attempted kidnapping, these tools are critical for swift and efficient crime resolution. Police Chief Scott Wahl hailed…

A study by Arizona State University researchers sheds light on how “inconclusive” decisions in firearm ballistics could play a key role in clearing innocent individuals in criminal cases. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study reveals that 85% of cartridge cases deemed “inconclusive” by forensic examiners were actually fired from different guns. This finding challenges…

A study by Arizona State University researchers sheds light on how “inconclusive” decisions in firearm ballistics could play a key role in clearing innocent individuals in criminal cases. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study reveals that 85% of cartridge cases deemed “inconclusive” by forensic examiners were actually fired from different guns. This finding challenges…

Can artificial intelligence outperform human memory in identifying suspects? A groundbreaking study explores the capabilities of AI-driven facial recognition systems (FRS) like FaceNet compared to human eyewitnesses in real crime scenarios. The findings suggest that AI systems demonstrate greater accuracy and reliability in suspect identification, outperforming eyewitness memory regardless of video clarity or perpetrator race. Using real surveillance footage with…

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) is enhancing its digital fingerprinting capabilities with a $1 million, five-year agreement to purchase SIC Biometrics’ Identifi-45 and Identifi-50 Wi-Fi fingerprint readers. These devices integrate seamlessly with the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) and Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS), enabling high-resolution fingerprint and iris capture for faster, more accurate identity verification. This upgrade boosts the…

Hall County Jail in Grand Island, Nebraska, is stepping up its security measures with a state-of-the-art AI-powered body scanner, the $160,000 Clearpass scanner by LINEV. Designed to detect drugs, weapons, and other contraband, this non-invasive, low-dose X-ray scanner uses automatic threat detection software, ensuring thorough inspections far beyond traditional pat-downs or metal detectors. The scanner can identify hidden contraband, even…

Researchers propose using immersive virtual reality (VR) scenarios to enhance the validity of verbal content analysis methods like the Criteria-Based Content Analysis (CBCA), a tool widely used in courts to assess the credibility of statements in cases like sexual offenses. While traditional methods often face challenges with ecological validity (real-life applicability) and standardization, VR could bridge this gap by simulating…