He Tracks Flock Crime Data: What Charles Fain Lehman Wishes You Knew About ALPRs

Flock cameras have quickly become one of the most controversial tools in American law enforcement.But why?On this episode of Holding the Line, Jason Johnson and Sean Kennedy sit down with Charles Fain Lehman, a research fellow at the Manhattan Institute and one of the leading voices pushing back against the growing backlash against Flock and automatic license plate readers (ALPRs).What exactly does Flock do? Is it really a mass-surveillance system? How does it differ from the license plate readers police have used for decades? And what about the legitimate concerns over privacy and potential abuse?Charles breaks down the technology, the misconceptions surrounding it, and the real-world cases where Flock cameras have helped police find missing children, locate wanted suspects, recover stolen vehicles, and solve serious crimes.He also makes the case that the answer isn't to eliminate the technology—but to establish reasonable guardrails governing how police can access, retain, and use the information.And Charles has created a resource to help people see the evidence for themselves: FlockStopsCrime.comCharles' Flock Crime Prevention Tracker is a daily-updated database of news stories documenting cases in which Flock cameras helped solve or prevent crimes. As of September 4, the database contains 1,714 documented incidents.The database includes cases involving everything from vehicle theft and shootings to homicide, robbery, burglary, hit-and-runs, and missing or abducted people.Explore the database:FlockStopsCrime.com — Flock Crime Prevention TrackerCharles Fain Lehman is a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and contributing editor at City Journal. His work focuses on crime, drugs, public disorder, and the public policy of antisocial behavior. Charles recently published “In Defense of Flock,” making the case that police camera technology can provide significant public-safety benefits while still allowing for meaningful safeguards against abuse.Read Charles Fain Lehman's “In Defense of Flock”