Policing and Technology Adoption: An Organizational Theory Approach

• In Event: Use of Body-Worn Cameras, Social Media, and Overall New Technology by Police

Abstract

Police agencies implement different kinds of technologies in the hopes of improving effectiveness and efficiency. This paper uses theory of police organizations to examine the organizational and structural factors that influence the degree to which a department is technologically innovative. Using data from the 2016 Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) survey, negative binomial regression models are used to examine measures of police organization, structure, and culture on police technology adoption. The results show that different elements of organizational structure and organizational culture are related to technology adoption in policing.

Author

• Matthew Teti, Northeastern University