WHAT LIES AHEAD?

CURRENT/FUTURE CHALLENGES:

Changes in population demographics:
Race/ethnicity
Age of population
Family size
Economic status

Reduction of federal funding assistance for state/local law enforcement - money used for Iraqi war effort

	Changes in Crime
	Increase in computer and Internet based crime
	Terrorist Threats Nuclear, biological, chemical attacks by terrorist/criminal organizations
	Organization Changes to address new threats: FBI-new units to focus on intelligence gathering
	Greater role for state/local law enforcement in battle against terrorism and illegal immigration --- federal security clearances for local officers, enforcement of federal immigration laws
	Focus on Homeland Security-State level agencies

Hiring Problems for Criminal Justice Agencies:

Finding and successfully recruiting qualified entry level personnel

Prior Drug use by large percentage of applicants for C.J. positions

Other issue already impacting criminal justice agencies: Generation X mentality

(Young people more concerned about money & benefits and less about doing good work
Surveys have shown consistent problems with young workers, such as tardiness, absence
from work without notification, not comitted to do the best job possible, etc.)

High rate of obese and overweight Americans
Problems with physical requirements and physical agility exams.

TECHNOLOGY:

Greater use of computer technology to analyze crime and crime patterns, to identify possible suspects, to cut ignition system of pursued vehicles. Sophisticated software and hardwae to track internet activity and source of cyber attacks. Improvement in facial recognition technology. Use of and requirement for biometic passports for U.S. and foreign passport holders. (Phased in beginning next year in the U.S.. Germany is currently phasing in biometric passports (countries worldwide are pressured by U.S. to adopt biometric passports for citizens desiring to visit the U.S.)

BIOMETRIC PASSPORT: Passport holder's photo and other info stored digitally in passport. Integrated transmitter chip enables passport to be read from a distance through the use of specially designed technology.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

Changes in the organizational structure of police agencies-flattening of the hierarchy
(Mentioned in text, but this trend is more imagined than real)

COURTS:
Use of private organizations or businesses for resolving civil disputes

Shift away from adversary system (already a reality... 95% of cases plea-bargained)

Judges more likely to be appointed based on merit instead of through the election process

Decentralization of Courts-according to Text, but trend is in opposite direction

Judiciary Makes the Most of Resources Now—and For The Millennium

CORRECTIONS:

Uncertainty as to growth in and size of prison population

Greater use of technology in prison and offender management

Legislation to divert first time/second time drug offenders (not traffickers) into alternatives to prison

Greater use of unused prison space in other jurisdictions