Now more than ever, data and technology are being used by law enforcement. Terry Cole is the president of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce. “We are working on the expanded use of technology and data to strategically fight crime. A thriving economy depends heavily on having a safe community,” Cole said. From 2021 to 2022, Albuquerque police reported a 3.5 percent decrease in crimes against people and a 2.2 percent decrease in property crimes. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is also analyzing these trends. They have seen a 4.5% drop in crimes against society this year compared to last, but a 12.5% jump in crimes against people. Now type “Case Catcher”. It is a tool created by the joint efforts of crime leaders in Albuquerque and Bernalillo counties. “The tool allows prosecutors to easily assess the completeness and quality of a referred criminal case,” said Scott Darnell. It allows officers and deputies to upload evidence and criminal cases online directly to the district attorney’s office. It essentially serves as an information highway. “We’re really trying to get every single discovery into Case Catcher, rather than having them in different places across agencies,” said Maggie Newman. Once this data is uploaded, it is available to these agencies and investigators. “Prosecuting attorneys will be able to share discovery right from Case Catcher with opposing counsel, with expert witnesses, with anyone who needs to receive that discovery,” Newman said. “When a case goes to the DA’s office, they can see on one screen what they have, what we’re going to expect to get and what we’re not going to have on that particular case,” Darnell said. The tool will also create a police prosecution team for each case. It has been in the works for three years and was completed in April 2023. Leaders also say prosecutors spend 50 percent of their time in court arguing for discovery evidence. They hope this tool will improve transparency and reduce these arguments.
Now more than ever, data and technology are being used by law enforcement.
Terry Cole is the president of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.
“We are working on the expanded use of technology and data to strategically fight crime. A thriving economy depends heavily on having a safe community,” Cole said.
From 2021 to 2022, Albuquerque police reported a 3.5 percent decrease in crimes against people and a 2.2 percent decrease in property crimes.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is also analyzing these trends. They have seen a 4.5% drop in crimes against society this year compared to last, but a 12.5% jump in crimes against people. Now type “Case Catcher”. It is a tool created by the joint efforts of crime leaders in Albuquerque and Bernalillo counties.
“The tool allows prosecutors to easily assess the completeness and quality of a referred criminal case,” said Scott Darnell.
It allows officers and deputies to upload evidence and criminal cases online directly to the district attorney’s office. It essentially serves as an information highway.
“We’re really trying to get every single discovery into Case Catcher, rather than having them in different places across agencies,” said Maggie Newman.
Once this data is uploaded, it is available to these agencies and investigators.
“Prosecuting attorneys will be able to share discovery right from Case Catcher with opposing counsel, with expert witnesses, with anyone who needs to receive that discovery,” Newman said.
“When a case goes to the DA’s office, they can see on one screen what they have, what we’re going to expect to get and what we’re not going to have on that particular case,” Darnell said.
The tool will also create a team of police prosecutors for each case. It has been in the works for three years and will be completed in April 2023.
Leaders also say prosecutors spend 50 percent of their time in court arguing for discovery. They hope this tool will improve transparency and reduce these arguments.