Social networks have been used among families and
friends for years. In the beginning of Myspace it was
common to hear people boast about having their very own website. It was
the first time that an average web surfer had a means for creating a webpage
and a profile to be public and readily available for the entire world to
see. Myspace and others even before that were blazing a path
that was obvious to some, but to others it was a new world.
Now in this "new world" I wonder its creators could have ever imagined some of the things people use them for. People most often use it as a means for keeping in touch with loved ones. Sharing things like photos and telling each other about a new job or promotion is what most people think of when you mention Facebook, Twitter or any other social network. Unfortunately there is a much different kind of sharing going on.
Criminals are using this as a tool to show off and boost their ego. Law Officials suspect criminals share their work because it makes them feel empowered or maybe even boosts reputation. It is this reason that many law enforcement agencies have taken to social networks in an attempt to track down law breakers especially Murderers.
A murder case near Long view Texas is being assisted by the use of Facebook and Twitter. A local news station (KLTV) ran a spot on a murder case that was unsolved. The suspects in that case were filmed jumping into a car and speeding away. The news station then asked anyone to come forward that might recognize the men and help police put them away. After the spot ran the KLTV 7's Facebook fan page was flooded with apparent friends and acquaintances of the 2 men.
There are similar cases just like this one all across the country and Police have warmed up to the idea of having a new crime fighter on the team. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are on the top of the list as the most used Social media platforms authorities use each day to assist them in solving murder cases.
In fact four out of five officers are said to be using Facebook and Twitter while on duty each day. This is in part of a new initiative pushed by Susan Crandal, the Director of Law Enforcement Marketing at LexisNexis. LexisNexis is positioned to help train officers in the new field of Law enforcement. Until LexisNexis was contracted Police Officer's had to rely heavily on the skills they picked up in their free time. Now roughly 74% of the nation’s law officials are being properly trained in the advanced areas of social media.
It is estimated that in the years to come Social Media and the Police Officers that are trained to use it will solve around 66% more cases than they would have been able to solve without it.
Now in this "new world" I wonder its creators could have ever imagined some of the things people use them for. People most often use it as a means for keeping in touch with loved ones. Sharing things like photos and telling each other about a new job or promotion is what most people think of when you mention Facebook, Twitter or any other social network. Unfortunately there is a much different kind of sharing going on.
Criminals are using this as a tool to show off and boost their ego. Law Officials suspect criminals share their work because it makes them feel empowered or maybe even boosts reputation. It is this reason that many law enforcement agencies have taken to social networks in an attempt to track down law breakers especially Murderers.
A murder case near Long view Texas is being assisted by the use of Facebook and Twitter. A local news station (KLTV) ran a spot on a murder case that was unsolved. The suspects in that case were filmed jumping into a car and speeding away. The news station then asked anyone to come forward that might recognize the men and help police put them away. After the spot ran the KLTV 7's Facebook fan page was flooded with apparent friends and acquaintances of the 2 men.
There are similar cases just like this one all across the country and Police have warmed up to the idea of having a new crime fighter on the team. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are on the top of the list as the most used Social media platforms authorities use each day to assist them in solving murder cases.
In fact four out of five officers are said to be using Facebook and Twitter while on duty each day. This is in part of a new initiative pushed by Susan Crandal, the Director of Law Enforcement Marketing at LexisNexis. LexisNexis is positioned to help train officers in the new field of Law enforcement. Until LexisNexis was contracted Police Officer's had to rely heavily on the skills they picked up in their free time. Now roughly 74% of the nation’s law officials are being properly trained in the advanced areas of social media.
It is estimated that in the years to come Social Media and the Police Officers that are trained to use it will solve around 66% more cases than they would have been able to solve without it.
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