PFI 2001 Annual Conference

PFI 2001 Annual Conference
in conjunction with WFS (World Future Society)
"FutureScope 2001: Exploring the 21st Century"
July 29-31, 2001
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Presenters:
Tyree C. Blocker MS
Major
Pennsylvania State Police
Carl J. Jensen, III, MS
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
Gerald Konkler, JD
Captain
Tulsa Police Department, Oklahoma
Bernard H. Levin, Ed.D.
Waynesboro Police Department, Virginia

Does politics play a role in whether a police officer arrests you, just warns you, or simply ignores you when you drive too fast, run a red light, or speed past a stop sign? The truth is police policies and procedures are tailored to the individual community's political realities. As 21st century society becomes increasingly multicultural and the police role expands to address community needs beyond traditional law enforcement, increasing tension between police and other political officials can be expected as police try to balance their Constitutional and professional duties within an ever-changing political climate. After all, police have an ethical obligation to even-handedly uphold the law without regard to political consequences. In this session, possible futures of politics and government and their likely effects on police organizations, management and operations will be discussed. In particular, the speakers will discuss how policing agencies will cope with their increasingly difficult and diverse duties while maintaining the support of the citizenry and protecting civil liberties. The audience will then be challenged to develop strategies to help bring about the preferable future for police agencies and the communities which they serve-that is, a future that includes efficiency, equity and justice.

Presenters:
Bernard H. Levin, Ed.D.
Waynesboro Police Department, Virginia
Carl J. Jensen, III, MS
Supervisory Special Agent, FBI
Gene Stephens, Ph.D.
College of Criminal Justice
University of South Carolina

Police and the public have many misperceptions about the crime problem in America, and police often proceed in ways that are non-productive because they lack objective and current data on which to base policies and procedures. In this session, the misperceptions will be examined along with police policy changes needed to get on track and meet the needs of 21st century citizens. Special attention will be paid to what information is needed to develop sound policies and how this data can be obtained and used. The panelists are committed to work with the audience to develop a plan to make 21st century policing more relevant and more reality-based than in the past.

Presenters:
John Henry Campbell, Ph.D.
Retired FBI, Professor
St. Cloud University, Minnesota
Douglas J. Domin
Special Agent in Charge, FBI
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mike Hatch
Attorney General, State of Minnesota
Todd Jones
U.S. Attorney General, State of Minnesota
William L. Tafoya, Ph.D.
Retired FBI
Professor of Criminal Justice
Governors State University

The illegal copying of computer software is growing at an alarming rate. Those who engage in such practices do not see themselves as committing a crime. The average adult appears to be unconcerned by the implications of this growing phenomenon. What lessons do children learn and internalize when adults and other role models tacitly condone or overtly contribute to the unauthorized and illegal copying of computer games, software, music, and movies? This session will explore the implications of this growing phenomenon. Panelists will discuss the near-term and long-range implications of this concern as well as offer
suggestions with regard to stemming the tide of software piracy and related cybercrimes.

Presenters:
Alan Beckley, LL.M
Chief Inspector, Business Development Manager
West Mercia Constabulary, Worcester, UK
Sandy Boyd, Ed.D.
Dean of Career Education, Social Science, and Athletics
College of Marin, California
James A. Conser, Ph.D.
Deputy Director
Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission
Richard W. Myers, MS
Chief, Appleton Police Department, Wisconsin

While most police departments in the U.S. are small, most criminal justice research is geared toward large departments. In the Information Age, there is great reason to believe that the demographic shifts, the Internet, and globalization will promote the continuing irrelevance of geopolitical boundaries. As such, rura
and small policing jurisdictions are expected to experience explosive growth and change. This panel will explore the future of small policing agencies, in the context of expected social, political, economic, demographic, and technological changes.

Presenters:
Gene Stephens, Ph.D.
College of Criminal Justice
University of South Carolina
William L. Tafoya, Ph.D.
Retired FBI
Professor of Criminal Justice
Governors State University

Cybercriminals are already stealing people's identity and money and soon will be committing even more sophisticated crimes via computer. Others will become cyberterrorists as they threaten or shut down air traffic control, telecommunications, and other systems vital to 21st century life. Criminals and terrorists will overwhelm us if we don't use the technology to stop them, but full use of the intrusive methods will spell an end to privacy-even of thought-in an Orwellean society. Members of the Police Futurists International examine this future in search of ways to balance high-tech crime and crime fighting with protection of cherished civil lliberties such as privacy.