Law Enforcement Use Of Social Media Essay

806 Words4 Pages

Social media is a new and impressive tool in today’s world. It helps individuals communicate with each other online and it can also help the law enforcement agencies with evidence surrounding criminal investigations. By recognizing the induction and deductions of certain articles or sites, they will give overall better understandings of certain topics such as criminal acts. After reading Robert D. Stuart (2013) “Social media: establishing criteria for law enforcement”, it can be concluded that the impacts of social media are leaving the world filled with bias but, also providing various sources of information at the same time. Although social media is a great device for law enforcement and communication, it is also considered one of the deadliest …show more content…

Law enforcement agencies use social media as ways to help with criminal investigations, crime prevention, and public relations. According to Stuart (2013), social media allows individuals to, “receive real-time information, as well as an electronic method of asking questions, making suggestions, and providing tips that help solve crimes.” Stuart examines instances where social media helped law enforcement agencies and officers find solutions to certain criminal investigations and …show more content…

For example, Kentucky State Police investigators posted pictures of jewelry from an investigation that led them to identifying a deceased person who was unknown for ten years. Similar to the investigators, Stuart claims that criminals use social media to share information through photos and videos of their “criminal acts” which leads to whereabouts which can provide significant information for law enforcement. Stuart is arguing that when social media is used in criminal acts, it can make it easy for the law enforcement agencies and officers to identify the victims, criminals, locations and overall simple