NCJ Number
65408
Date Published
Unknown
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF AN AUTOMATED DATA BASE BY THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BAIL AGENCY IS DISCUSSED. THE AGENCY'S PURPOSE, ORGANIZATION OF THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM, AND DATA BASE STRUCTURE ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
IT SERVES THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT AND THE WASHINGTON D.C. SUPERIOR COURT IN THE CITY. THE AGENCY'S PRIMARY FUNCTION IS TO ASSURE THAT DEFENDANTS APPEAR IN COURT. THE AGENCY IS THE INFORMATION BRANCH OF THE COURTS IN BAIL DETERMINATION. ALL ARRESTEES BROUGHT BEFORE THE COURTS ARE INTERVIEWED BY THE AGENCY BEFORE ARRAIGNMENT, AND THE ARRESTEE'S POTENTIAL FOR PRETRIAL RELEASE IS EVALUATED REGARDING PRIOR CRIMINAL INVOLVEMENT AND COMMUNTY TIES. THE AGENCY ALSO SUPERVISES THOSE PERSONS GRANTED NONSURETY FORM OF RELEASE AND REPORTS VIOLATIONS OF PRETRIAL RELEASE CONDITIONS TO THE COURTS. FINALLY, THE AGENCY ASSISTS PRETRAIL RELEASES IN SECURING EMPLOYMENT AND NECESSARY MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES. CASELOADS HAVE INCREASED YEARLY; DURING 1975, 27,839 INTERVIEWS AND INVESTIGATIONS WERE CONDUCTED BY THE AGENCY. THE AUTOMATED DATA BASE SYSTEM IS A SET OF COMPUTER PROGRAMS DEVELOPED TO ASSIST THE AGENCY IN THE COLLECTION, RETRIEVAL, AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION VITAL TO DAILY OPERATIONS. THE AGENCY HAS 12 VISUAL DISPLAY TERMINALS AND 2 HARD COPY PRINTERS. FILES CONSIST OF A PERSON FILE, A CASE FILE ACCESSED BY CASE OR DOCKET NUMBER, AND CODE TABLES. THE ONLINE SYSTEM TRANSACTIONS ARE PART OF THE WASHINGTON AREA LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM. THERE ARE FIVE SUBSYSTEMS USED TO ADD, CHANGE, OR DELETE INFORMATION IN THE DATA BASE. THESE INCLUDE THE INTERVIEW, INITIAL RELEASE, COURT RECORDS, DEFENDANT CONTACT, AND SUPERVISION AND SUPPORT SUBSYSTEMS. FOUR ONLINE REPORTS ARE PRODUCED BY THE SYSTEM, AND BATCH REPORTS ARE ISSUED PERIODICALLY. PLANS TO UPGRADE THE SYSTEM AND AGENCY PERSONNEL'S INITIAL REACTIONS ARE ALSO DESCRIBED. PHOTOGRAPHS AND EXHIBITS ARE PROVIDED. (LWM)