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CAN A COMPUTER HELP IN A MAJOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION?

NCJ Number
35395
Journal
Police Research Bulletin Issue: 27 Dated: (SUMMER 1976) Pages: 2-8
Author(s)
H THOMPSON; P LEVY
Date Published
1976
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBED THE FIRST PHASE OF A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON THE USE OF COMPUTERIZED INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS IN ENGLISH AND WELSH POLICE OPERATIONS ROOMS SET UP FOR THE CONTROL OF A MAJOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION.
Abstract
THIS PHASE OF THE STUDY WAS DIVIDED INTO THREE AREAS: VISITS TO VARIOUS OOPERATIONS ROOMS, GATHERING OF STATISTICS ON OPERATIONS ROOMS, AND A STUDY OF THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO ASSIST AND HANDLE OPERATIONS ROOM DOCUMENTATION ON A COMPUTERIZED LEVEL. COMPUTER HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE INVESTIGATIONS, TAKEN TOGETHER WITH THE ANALYSIS OF OPERATIONS ROOM PROCEDURES, INDICATE THAT VARYING DEGREES OF COMPUTER ASSISTANCE ARE FEASIBLE. THE STUDY, HOWEVER, HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANT CONSTRAINTS WHICH WOULD DERIVE DIFFERENT POLICIES IN REGARD TO ANY NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH A PLAN.