Police managers throughout America share a dilemma—how to provide maximum service with limited resources and law enforcement software can ease the pain. Computers are both a bane and a boon. On the one hand, computers increase police workload through fraud, identity theft and many other criminal enterprises. On the other, computers help administrators deal more efficiently with record keeping, criminal identification, accounting and bucket loads of other administrative and enforcement tasks.

Law enforcement software information is necessary for anyone involved in law enforcement services, whether working as a police officer or a support services employee. Computer systems are of little use to police employees who cannot locate the information they need. Training personnel need to find lessons to teach; clerks need the best way to file personnel, accounting, criminal and other records; managers need to keep track of employees; dispatchers need to monitor officer locations and dispatch calls for service.

1. Make report writing a priority on your law enforcement software list.

2. A law enforcement software provider may fill specialized needs you don't even know about.

3. A law enforcement software directory can save you time.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find law enforcement software for convenient report writing

Report writing is one of the most time-consuming tasks for police officers. Kick officers out the door and put them back to work. Things have improved considerably since the dinosaur-age. Report writing by hand makes no sense when every officer in America has access to a computer. Some large agencies provide each officer with a laptop computer for writing reports. If no laptop is available, computers should be available at the police station. Good report writing software saves duplication. Records clerks have no need to retype officers' handwritten reports. Computerized reports also make it easier to find and extract specific information and statistics.

I recommend: Police One is recognized as a leader in police products and information. It is a great place to find report writing software. You can download Crime Soft police reporting software created by CSE for a free 90-day evaluation.

Locate a specialized law enforcement software provider for specific needs

Some software suppliers fill specialized needs for law enforcement agencies. These specialty areas may include special weapons and tactics, burglary tracking, fingerprints, robbery, sex crimes and more.

I recommend: L.E.A. Data Technologies can send a demo CD and a 20-day free trial of their specialized software products. Law Enforcement Software Solution provides a free trial for their comprehensive software solutions designed for law enforcement.

Use a law enforcement software directory to find the programs you want

It is frustrating looking all over the Internet for a single, specialized program. A law enforcement software directory can help you find what you seek.

I recommend: You can find a software directory at Capterra with a variety of different programs geared to police work. Officer.com has an extensive database of companies that make software and computer-related items for law enforcement.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Software programs can help in ways that many police officers don't even know about. Law enforcement software programs can help with crime and traffic accident investigations, in blood splatter examination, and diagramming and 3D reconstructions of fire, crime and accident scenes.