Nuance Communications, Inc., a computer software technology provider, releases the results of a new survey that found most of today’s law enforcement professionals are spending at least three to four hours a day filling out incident reports and other paperwork.
The 2018 Role of Technology in Law Enforcement Paperwork Annual Report examines key documentation issues facing law enforcement professionals specific to incident reporting and other essential documentation tasks, and how these requirements impact report accuracy, productivity and safety, according to the company.
The report was created from a November 2017 survey that was sent to more than 12,000 police chiefs, patrol officers, detectives, sergeants, lieutenants and other employees responsible for record management. The survey was created to see how departments are using technology to improve reporting processes and which systems help improve documentation workflow.
The data shows law enforcement professionals’ high reporting demands are impacting productivity and safety.
Some key findings from the report include:
- More than 39 percent surveyed spend 3-4 hours per day completing incident reports while 13 percent spend 4+ hours.
- More than 50 percent spend at least a quarter of their time on reporting duties back at the station, limiting time spent in the community.
- More than 50 percent undertake reporting tasks manually without the help of transcription staff or other technologies.
- Ninety-six percent “strongly agree” or “agree” that technology in patrol cars are distracting and impact situational awareness.
- Thirty-one percent are “very dissatisfied” or “dissatisfied” with their department’s use of available technologies.
- Fifty-eight percent currently use a combination of mobile and digital tools to help complete incident reports.
Mark Geremia, vice president and general manager of Nuance Communications, says the company’s Dragon Law Enforcement speech recognition solution provides law enforcement professionals with a faster, safer, more efficient way to create incident reports and perform other essential tasks, all by voice.
