NCJ Number
66514
Date Published
Unknown
Length
14 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOKLET OUTLINES SUGGESTED STEPS FOR IMPLEMENTING BASIC OFFENDERBASED STATE CORRECTIONS INFORMATION SYSTEM (OBSCIS) AND IS INTENDED AS A GUIDE TO AGENCIES INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE PACKAGE.
Abstract
A SUCCESSFUL BASIC OBSCIS INSTALLATION REQUIRES A FUNCTIONING USER GROUP THAT WILL SERVE IN AN ADVISORY CAPACITY TO THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS. THE GROUP SHOULD HAVE BALANCED REPRESENTATION FROM ALL AUTHORITY AND ASSIGNMENT LEVELS, AND IT SHOULD BE INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTATION, THE NEEDS TO BE SERVED BY AUTOMATION. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS SHOULD BE RUN BETWEEN THE BASIC OBSCIS DATA ELEMENTS AND THE DATA ITEMS AVAILABLE AND NECESSARY TO THE STATE. A STATE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM DATA DICTIONARY IS THE PRODUCT OF THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS; THE DICTIONARY IS THE PRODUCT OF THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS; THE DICTIONARY STANDARDIZES TERMINOLOGY AMONG THE SEVERAL UNITS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. USER GROUP PARTICIPATION AND APPROVAL OF THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT TO ITS ACCEPTANCE IN THE DEPARTMENT. NOT NEEDING REVIEW BY THE USER GROUP IS THE INSTALLATION PLAN, WHICH IS TECHNICAL AND INCLUDES HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, AND PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS AND ANTICIPATES VENDOR DELIVERY DATES. THE CONVERSION PLAN SHOULD BE DEVELOPED IN HARMONY WITH THE INSTALLATION PLAN TO INSURE THE MESHING OF THE TWO PLANS AND TO FOLLOW A MASTER IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE. THE CONVERSION PLAN SHOULD COVER FORMS FLOW, KEYING AND INPUT, ERROR CORRECTION, AND SPECIFIC CODING INSTRUCTIONS. AN OUTPUT DISTRIBUTION PLAN ENSURES THAT THE INSTALLED SYSTEM EFFICIENTLY PRODUCES REPORTS AND THAT THE REPORTS REACH THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN A TIMELY MANNER. USER GROUP MEMBERS CAN AID IN THE CONTINUAL ENHANCEMENT OF THE OBSCIS SYSTEM TO FIT SPECIAL, LONG-TERM NEEDS, AND TO ESTABLISH FUTURE GROWTH. DOCUMENTATION OF ALL PARTS OF THE SYSTEM'S DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION MUST BE WRITTEN, INCLUDING USER, OPERATIONS, AND PROGRAM MAINTENANCE MANUALS; FUNCTIONAL AND DATA REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENTS; SYSTEM, PROGRAM, AND DATA BASE SPECIFICATIONS; AND TEST PLANS AND TEST ANALYSIS REPORTS. AN ESTIMATED TIME FRAME CHART IS APPENDED. SEE NCJ 66513 AND 66515.