Use Of Cameras In Washington D.C. example essay topic

Andrew Blind Dr. Pirrone Composition November 24, 2003 Are We Being Controlled, or Is It for Our Safety? Cameras, computer programs, and other technological weapons, such as the cameras in Washington D.C., the computer program Mosaic 2000, and Thermal-Imaging instruments were made to help prevent crime. They were meant to help prevent problems, not to watch over us to control people's lives. People feel threatened when they are being watched, and they act "sub-norm". In such a situation as when you are around your parents most people act differently and aren't the same way they usually are in front of their friends. But if people aren't doing anything wrong, they really shouldn't feel weird; they should be able to act normally.

Also, when people are watched, it will help eliminate crimes because people wouldn't commit the crimes when it is that easy to be caught. The use of cameras in Washington D.C. is definitely the smartest and safest thing that law enforcement can do. As the deputy chief of the DC Metro Police, Polly Hanson states, "It makes sense. When there are emergencies or demonstrations, we coordinate with the MPD anyway.

This technical upgrade and connection seemed like a natural fit". (Parenti, Pg. 312) Also, these cameras can spot license plate numbers, they can track cars moving through the city, zoom in on individuals, read newsprint from hundreds of feet away, and all this information is sent to 1000 police vehicles laptop's. (Parenti, Pg. 312) These cameras will help to prevent crime and to stop it before it gets out of hand. The cameras aren't cheap. These cameras are about 15,000 dollars a piece, and the Metro Police have received $49 million dollars in federal antiterrorist funding. (Parenti Pg. 311-312) And that is how people have to look at this subject, that it is antiterrorist protection.

Washington D.C. is a prime target for terrorists because our leaders and governmental officials are there. Furthermore, the majority of Washington D.C. citizens are in favor of the increased surveillance in public places. (Parenti, Pg. 312) 49 million dollars is a lot of money to spend, but we also just spent 87 million dollars in Iraq. Now both large sums of money were spent for our safety, but the 49 million is a much better investment for our security. New computer programs work in finding troublemakers. The program in question is Mosaic 2000.

Many people such as Andrew Vita, associate director for field operations of the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, who has personally used the program in an investigation said, "I think it's a wonderful tool that has a great deal of potential, and I hope its properly used by the schools we are trying to get some of our focus and resources up front of violence, in violence prevention, and violence avoidance". (Clines Pg. 288) The program will be used to help troubled children who are usually more likely to be violent. Professional organizations have used programs such as this and have had great success, but as in everything there are places in which things fail. Mosaic 2000 isn't a mind-reader, but it will give help to parents, teachers, and law enforcement officers to help and prevent children from making bad decisions which could affect them for the rest of their lives. Thermal Imaging technology has been found to invade people's privacy. Thermal-Imagery was used to find a man who was growing marijuana in his basement.

The Circuit Courts had a very hard time deciding, and had to hear the case a number of times. Finally, it was appealed all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court decided in a 5-4 decision that it was wrong for the police to use the Thermal-Imager without a warrant. (Colbridge Pg. 300-302) This is wrong; those police officers kept a lot of drugs off the street and out of people's hands. The police weren't out to invade this man's privacy; they were out to get this man and to stop him from selling drugs. They were worried about keeping drugs off the street.

Therefore, cameras, computer programs, and new technology should be used for our safety. The American public needs to stop worrying about their privacy being invaded, especially if they aren't doing anything wrong. They need to realize that it is done for our safety. It's meant to prevent and secure our way of life, not to control our way of life.

Reference: Clines, F X. (1999) Computer Project Seeks to Avert Youth Violence. In Kennedy, Kennedy, Smith (eds). Writing in the Disciplines. (pp. 286-290). New Jersey.

Upper Saddle River. Colbridge, T D. (2001) Kyl lo vs. United States: Technology vs. Individual Privacy. Writing in the Disciplines. (pp. 298-308) New Jersey. Upper Saddle River.

Parenti C. (2002) DC's Virtual Panoptic on. The Nation. In Kennedy, Kennedy, Smith. (eds) Writing in the Disciplines. (pp. 311-316) New Jersey. Upper Saddle River.