Communications Technologies Center of Excellence Services

Role

The role of the NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE is to assist in the transition of law enforcement communications technologies from the research and development laboratories into practice by first adopters within the criminal justice community. The Communications Technologies COE serves as the subject matter resource within the NLECTC System for both practitioners and developers in the area of Communications Technologies.

The NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE Supports Testing and Evaluation

• RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT of emerging technologies required for interoperable communications as directed by the CommTech Technology Working Group (TWG)
• TEST AND EVALUATE technology platforms to provide unbiased information to the State and local law enforcement community
• PILOT PROGRAMS to demonstrate cutting edge technologies in an operational environment to the law enforcement community
• STANDARDS to assist the development of standards that improve technology availability, cost, reliability & Interoperability
• OUTREACH and TECHNOLOGY ASSISTANCE to provide unbiased information to the State and local law enforcement community on communication technology related issues

How This Is Accomplished

NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE collaborates or partners with the NLECTC National and Regional Technology Centers and the Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE supports NIJ's Communications Technologies portfolio's RDT&E process by:

• Identifying Technology Requirements: NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE identifies technology requirements by hosting and supporting the NIJ Communications Technology (CommTech) working group (TWG) activities, conducting focused studies to support program development, and participating in relevant technical conferences and symposia.
• Supporting NIJ's Research and Development Programs: NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE scientists and engineers assist the NIJ Communications Technologies (CommTech) program manager in defining program objectives; assessing ongoing research and development projects; identifying relevant technology efforts for NIJ collaboration; and participating in national and regional groups that support the adoption of technology.
• Testing, Evaluating, and Demonstrating Technologies: NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE tests and evaluates technologies in field environments by conducting operational evaluations with practitioner agencies.
• Demonstrating Technologies: NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE demonstrates technologies with practitioner agencies. Technology demonstrations may range from 2 hours to 12 months. Findings are disseminated through reports, conferences, standards, and technology assistance activities.
• Supporting the Adoption of New Technology: NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE facilitates the effective transfer into practice of new tools and technologies, including those funded by NIJ, other government programs and industry. Efforts include introducing new communications tools and technologies to the practitioner; introducing practitioner requirements to researchers; and assisting in the commercialization of products. Commercialization activities include providing feedback to technology researchers in the criminal justice marketplace; describing criminal justice requirements and practices; providing opportunities for demonstration of technologies; and presenting strategies such as the SDR roadmap for the commercialization of technologies. In this assistance to commercialization, we play a vital role in providing practitioner agencies access to new technologies and improved capabilities.
• Developing Publications: NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE efforts include the development of publications such as NIJ InShort's and best practices guides for law enforcement and other appropriate criminal justice practitioners that provide information about various communication topics and describe how to plan for, select, and implement technology solutions based on operational evaluations of the technology.
• Providing Technology Assistance and Support to Criminal Justice Agencies on a National Basis: NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE provides specialized communication technology assistance. The focus of this effort it to provide science and engineering advice and support to assist first adopter law enforcement, corrections, and other criminal justice agencies with the use of new technologies or the adaptation of existing technologies to enhance their effectiveness, efficiency, and safety. NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE provides national expertise for the criminal justice community's ongoing efforts to continuously improve operations through the adoption of new tools and methods.
• Education and Outreach: NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE has implemented a multifaceted outreach program with the sole purpose of informing the law enforcement and corrections communities about advances in the field of voice and data communications that will impact the way agencies operate now and in the future. Along with the distribution of written material NLECTC-Communications Technologies COE staff members and NIJ funded researchers throughout the year present and demonstrate new communication technologies at National level conferences and events providing information about new technologies designed specifically to meet the needs of public safety.
  Outreach Events Supported in 2008:
  • 2008 National Sheriffs' Association Winter Conference
  • Software Radio Institute for Defense and Government Advancement
  • Spring Rural Law Enforcement Institute Training Conference
  • 2008 International Wireless Communications Exposition
  • 32nd Law Enforcement Information Management Conference
  • NIJ Applied Technologies Conference
  • California Governor's Office of Homeland Security Annual Conference
  • Innovative Technologies for Community Corrections Conference
  • 2008 Police Security Exposition
  • 67th National Sheriffs Association Annual Conference & Exhibition
  • Sheriff's Association of Texas 130th Annual Training Conference
  • NIJ Research and Evaluation Conference
  • 2008 FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) Conference
  • NIJ Research and Evaluation Conference
  • 74th Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials Annual Conference & Exposition
  • American Correctional Association's (ACA) 138th Congress of Correction Conference
  • 114th International Association of Chiefs of Police Law Enforcement Education and Technology Exposition
  • Spring Rural Law Enforcement Institute Training Conference
  • 10th Annual Technologies for Public Safety in Critical Incident Response Conference & Exhibition

Last updated: June 10, 2008