Coordination of Computerisation Within the Criminal Justice System of England and Wales

• NCJ Number: 155449
• Author(s): C G Lewis
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 4 pages
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office
• Publication Type: Conference Material
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, International Crime Statistics Program.

Annotation

This paper describes the British model for coordinating information technology (IT) developments in the criminal justice system.

Abstract

Progress over the last 5 years is noted, as well as plans for the future. The emphasis is on the need for a central unit to set common technical, data, and communications standards for information that needs to be exchanged between agencies. It is hoped that the British model may be useful to other countries which are considering IT developments. The British model is based on IT applications with the following characteristics: awareness of the importance of information and the development of criminal justice information policies; centrally established standards of technology, communication, and data; common network for communicating between agencies; and systems specified nationally. Centrally maintained databases are planned, as well as appropriate security and data protection standards and investments in staff training. Goals are to link agencies and to improve the coordination of information. Benefits of the British approach to information management and progress made in pilot projects are examined.