Daley wants Cameras on every corner (Chicago, Time: crime, neighborhood, cost of)

[ChiMack]

City putting surveillance cameras to use :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Politics (http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1440402,mayor-daley-emergency-surveillance-cameras.article - broken link)

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

The cost of maintaining camera systems is enormous, and their actual benefit is limited. I'd think those dollars could be better spent elsewhere in a way that would be more beneficial to the community.

[RichMonk]

Seriously, stop just posting links. I saw this already like 15 min ago when I looked at my Google News page. It is something I think many of us do, if not, you may hit me upside the head.

Some thoughts or criticisms would be a nice way to get the thread going. Meh, guess you are just going to leave that up to everyone else.

Anyhow, they have CCTV all throughout London. Is it a big help, sure. Does it violate civil liberties, possibly. Personally, I am one to think that if you are not doing anything wrong then the cameras shouldn't bother you. It becomes a problem when the laws are unjust and then the cameras can become a dangerous tool.

[Costa Rica Chica]

I would think these cameras would cause more accidents than prevent - either peole speed up or slam on their brakes because they are nercous about the cameras.

[RichMonk]

I am not so sure the intent is to monitor traffic. However, if there is an accident at an intersection they could have the correct number of responders there possibly saving a life.

[soulful]

I think this is great. It should deter crime and hopefully won't bother law abiding citizens.

The coolest thing is that the 911 center now can automatically access cameras within 150 feet of the address to which they are responding. Giving them a heads up before arriving on the scene.

[ChiMack]

Originally Posted by dsimicata

I think this is great. It should deter crime and hopefully won't bother law abiding citizens.

well they have cameras in hot spots now and crime doesnt seem to be detered

[RichMonk]

Originally Posted by ChiMack

well they have cameras in hot spots now and crime doesnt seem to be detered

Is that true? I've never really read any statistics on the effectiveness of a camera on hotspots.

I am more interested in if they deter crime in the vicinity of the camera. I am doubtful they could really transform a neighborhood.

[UnderTheLiveOaks]

I'll try to find an article I read on this recently. From what I recall, research suggests that the cameras don't eliminate crime, only shift it into areas cameras can't see. Furthermore, they are, again, very expensive to maintain, so even if they may help cut into crime, other tactics, like putting more officers on streets, may be more effective.

I'll try to find the article.

[RichMonk]

Originally Posted by CarolinaBredChicagoan

Furthermore, they are, again, very expensive to maintain, so even if they may help cut into crime, other tactics, like putting more officers on streets, may be more effective.

Yes, an actual police presence is always better.

Kinda makes me think that in the future we will have like 100 cops in a city total. Their only job would be to arrest people they caught on camera.

Big brother sounds really awesome. [/sarcasm]