NCJ Number
5371
Journal
JOURNAL OF CRIMINAL LAW, CRIMINOLOGY AND POLICE SCIENCE Volume: 62 Issue: 3 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1971) Pages: 422-429
Date Published
1971
Length
8 pages
Annotation
COMPUTER-BASED MUNICIPAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE EXAMINED AS A METHOD FOR INTEGRATING DATA FILES FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND RELATED MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS.
Abstract
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, PARTICULARLY THOSE OF LARGER CITIES, HAVE EXPRESSED A GROWING INTEREST IN AND NEED FOR COMPUTER-BASED INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF MUNICIPAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS TO DETERMINE THEIR EXISTING AND ANTICIPATED FUTURE NEEDS FOR DATA PROCESSING INFORMATION SYSTEMS. THE PURPOSE OF THE AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEM AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL IS TO INTEGRATE, BOTH VERTICALLY AND HORIZONTALLY, THE PROCESSES OF LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION, AS WELL AS THE RELATED ACTIVITIES OF OTHER AGENCIES, INTO ONE INFORMATION SYSTEM. VERTICAL INTEGRATION INVOLVES THE LINKING OF FUNCTIONAL SUBSYSTEMS, ALL OF WHICH SHARE COMMON GOALS AND ACTIVITIES WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES--POLICE, FIRE, PLANNING, FINANCE, AND PUBLIC WORKS--INTO ONE MUNICIPAL INFORMATION SYSTEM. HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION INVOLVES GATHERING WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL INFORMATION SYSTEM THE DATA FILES OF THE VARIOUS MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS. ONE METHOD FREQUENTLY USED IDENTIFIES THE KIND OF INFORMATION WHICH FLOWS IN, SUCH AS INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE, PROPERTY, AND MONEY.