The use of the Internet by law enforcement personnel

Purpose. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the (1) the characteristics of law enforcement Internet users, (2) their supportive environments, (3) their utilization of the Internet, and (4) correlated variables with frequency of Internet use.; Methods. The methods used to obtain data for this study were to post questionnaires on the World Wide Web, and to distribute questionnaires through listservs that hosted law enforcement discussion groups (POLICE-L and EUROCOP).; Findings. (1) Law enforcement Internet users were typically white, male patrol officers who perform line function duties and have less experience in law enforcement. Their average age was 38.4 years and most had some college and were in a middle range household income ({dollar}30,000--59,999). (2)~Law enforcement Internet users lacked agency support. Most used their own equipment and accessed the Internet from their home. (3)~The World Wide Web was the number one Internet facility used. Criminal justice directories were the most selected sites, and technological products and services was the most popular cited law enforcement information on the World Wide Web. Personal need was the most cited reason for using the Internet followed by work-related reasons. Law enforcement Internet users perceived information access as a future critical use of the Internet. (4)~Law enforcement experience, length of Internet use, home page administrator, and access to the Internet from home were found to be statistically related with frequency of use of the Internet.