NCJ Number
77
Date Published
1967
Length
127 pages
Annotation
AN AREA WIDE POLICE INFORMATION SYSTEM IN REAL-TIME.
Abstract
THE HAMILTON COUNTY POLICE ASSOCIATION STUDY COMMITTEE SURVEYED POLICE RECORDS OPERATIONS. THIS SURVEY LED TO THE FOLLOWING CONCLUSIONS - (1) AN ACCELERATING TREND TOWARD URBANIZATION AND A RAPIDLY INCREASING POPULATION HAS RESULTED IN ISOLATED COMMUNITIES GROWING TOGETHER; (2) IN RELATION TO THE CRIME PROBLEM, THE SOCIAL IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL BOUNDARIES HAS BEEN ALMOST TOTALLY ELIMINATED; (3) FACTORS WHICH HAVE PRODUCED STEADILY INCREASING CRIME RATES HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT AN EVER INCREASING PUBLIC DEPENDENCE ON LAW ENFORCEMENT BODIES. THESE CONDITIONS HAVE LED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT(1) METHODS OF COLLECTING AND PROCESSING POLICE INFORMATION MUST BE REVISED AND UPGRADED; (2) THE SCOPE, CONTENT, AND ACCURACY OF INDICES AND FILES MUST BE UPGRADED; (3) PRESENT PRACTICES RELATING TO ACCESS, RETRIEVAL, AND UPGRADING OF POLICE DATA ARE INADEQUATE; (4) THE SUFFICIENCY OF RECORDS SYSTEMS INFLUENCES THE VALIDITY OF POLICE ACTION. THE CONCLUSIONS CAN BE TRACED DIRECTLY TO - (1) PRESENT RECORDS SYSTEMS CANNOT MEET DEMANDS OF THE SERVICE; (2) PRESENT RECORDS PROCEDURES ARE TOO DEPENDENT ON MANUAL OPERATION; (3) FEW LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE ASSISTANCE OF SKILLED RECORD MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL; (4) THERE MUST BE DEVELOPMENT AND ACCEPTANCE OF STANDARDS GOVERNING RECORDS MANAGEMENT. BASICALLY, THE GOAL OF PROJECT CLEAR IS TO PROVIDE AREA WIDE POLICE INFORMATION TO EACH PARTICIPATING DEPARTMENT ON A REAL-TIME BASIS. THIS MEANS A RESPONSIVENESS TO CHANGING POLICE NEEDS ON A 24-HOUR, 7-DAYS A WEEK BASIS. ACTIVITY AREAS COVERED WILL BE - ARREST WARRANTS, STOLEN VEHICLES, STOLEN PROPERTY, ARREST REPORTING, OFFICER ACTIVITY ANALYSIS, CRIME REPORTING, STATISTICS.