NCJ Number
152817
Journal
Compiler Volume: 14 Issue: 1 Dated: (Summer 1994) Pages: 4-7,18
Date Published
1994
Length
5 pages
Annotation
Criminal history record information (CHRI) plays a crucial role in the criminal justice process, and Illinois has convened an 18-member Ad Hoc Committee on Dispositional Reporting to serve as a task force on criminal justice records improvement.
Abstract
Since 1983, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) has audited the computerized criminal history (CCH) system maintained by the Illinois State Police (ISP). The 1990 audit found that nearly two-thirds of arrests were missing final court dispositions and concluded that missing disposition information seriously affected CHRI quality and usefulness. The audit also determined that a comprehensive effort was needed to address the disposition problem and recommended forming an ad hoc committee of representatives from the ICJIA, the ISP, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, and local CHRI reporting agencies to develop effective solutions. In 1991, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) developed criteria to ensure that felony arrest records accurately reflect the underlying criminal justice transaction and that they contain disposition information. In response to BJA guidelines on CHRI improvements, Illinois established the Ad Hoc Committee on Dispositional Reporting. This committee, charged with identifying and solving problems that affect criminal history records, has representatives from law enforcement, prosecution, courts, corrections, and other CHRI reporters and users. The committee is involved with training, technology, auditing, and other CHRI improvement strategies and recognizes the need for a CHRI master plan. Principles guiding the CHRI system in Illinois are identified.