Police and Lawyers Develop Social Networking Pages
Jun 22nd, 2009 | By Rex Gradeless | Category: Featured, Lead Article, Social Networking, Web 2.0
The Illinois State Journal Register reports that police departments in Illinois are creating social networking pages to fight crime.Police Departments are setting up online profiles on social networks such as MySpace, Facebook, and even Twitter. These profiles typically serve two purposes: 1) to deter potential online predators and 2) to create a healthy dialogue between law enforcement and the community.
Having law enforcement agencies create online profiles on social networks is consistent with the modern trend across the country. Here are some headlines:
* Social networking sites helping police (New Jersey)
* Is this lawman your Facebook friend? Investigators use social networking websites for police work (Boston)
* Police departments keeping public informed on Twitter
* The first ever police sponsored social network
The main goal of the MySpace page is to help prevent Internet predators from preying on local pre-teens and teenagers who use the site.
“The general idea was, let’s encourage parents to talk to their children about adding the Leland Grove Police Department as a friend. It’s not going to stop online predators or pedophilia situations, but if they see the Leland Grove PD as one of (a child’s) friends, maybe that would deter some contact,” Deputy Chief Dan Ryan said.
However, ever since the Lori Drew MySpace case, more and more police departments are beginning to appear on social networks to fight crimes originating online.
Social networks are on the rise. Niche groups within law enforcement agencies are finding ways to organize themselves using social networks like never before. Here is a list of law enforcement social networks as well as social networks within the legal community:
Police Social Networks:
Police Pulse
Grove Police
Riverton Police (complete with Bad Boys Theme Song!)
Rochester Police
Legal Community Social Networks:
LB Network
Avvo
JD Diversity
Legally Minded
Law Marketing
Lawyrs
Advance Advocates
Lawyer Connection
Lawyrs.net
CasemakerX
Counsel.net
Legal OnRamp
mypractice
LawLink
tweetlaw
LegalBirds
LexTweet
VoloLegal
ADD YOUR POLICE OR LEGAL SOCIAL NETWORK TO THE LIST!
Related posts:
- EFF Sues Federal Agencies to Release Social Media Policies
- Arrested for Tweeting Police Activity
- Social Network Review: Legal OnRamp
- A New Social Network for Legal Community: JD Diversity
- Preparing for OCI Part I: A Sound Reputation
- Implications of Electronic Communication on Family Law Litigation
- Twitter Party Is Just Beginning
- Calling Law Student Contributors for Social Media Law Student
- Martindale-Hubbell Connected: Positioning Yourself for Tomorrows Social Media
- Social Media Best Practices for Law Schools (Part 2)
Interestingly the Riverton Police Department is single, a Capricorn, and 99 years old! Good to know!
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“We don’t have the resources” is not a good excuse. Fairfield CA PD has a MySpace page like Leland Grove’s. (They are also adding Facebook and Twitter pages.) These efforts are done entirely on the officers’ own time.
I don’t think it’s appropriate to “volunteer” an officer, but certainly administrators should state why it is a good idea, and ask for volunteers. I’d be surprised if they didn’t have at least one willing person. The detective bureau can be an especially good place to start, as more often than not these days, they’re finding online evidence. However, this is true of patrol as well.
Administrators may be concerned that officers will “goof off” on social networking sites, but that is easily fixed with a strong social media policy. Departments that care about community policing recognize that officers engaging the public in conversations on the street are important to the overall effort… well it’s the same with the Internet “neighborhood.”
IMO PDs can no longer afford not to be online in some capacity or another, whether strictly investigative or as part of community policing. Even though budgets/positions are being slashed… this is a great, low-cost way to stay in touch with the community even if you can’t have officers engaging the way they used to.
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This is my third time here, just thought I would mention that you are doing a great job!
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