COST OF AN OBSCIS (OFFENDER-BASED STATE CORRECTIONS INFORMATION SYSTEM) - ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS (FROM OBSCIS COMPENDIUM - PROCEEDINGS FROM THE OBSCIS SEMINAR, 1978, BY A H LAMMERS - SEE NCJ-51740)

• NCJ Number: 51745
• Author(s): W G PUTNAM
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 26 pages
• Corporate Author: SEARCH Group Inc.
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE GOALS, DEVELOPMENT, AND OPERATION OF ARIZONA'S OBSCIS ARE DESCRIBED, AND THE SYSTEM'S COSTS AND BENEFITS ARE ANALYZED.

Abstract

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE ARIZONA OFFENDER-BASED STATE CORRECTIONS INFORMATION SYSTEM (OBSCIS) IS TO AID DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS MANAGEMENT THROUGH CASE REPORTING, INMATE POPULATION COUNTING AND CONTROL, AND MANAGEMENT ANALYSIS FUNCTIONS. IN ADDITION TO MEETING INTERNAL MANAGEMENT NEEDS, OBSCIS ALSO IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE INFORMATION NEEDS OF OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES IN ARIZONA. DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARIZONA OBSCIS BEGAN IN 1972 WITH THE PRE-OBSCIS DESIGN OF SYSTEM MODULES AND PROCEEDED THROUGH OBSCIS PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND OPERATIONAL REFINEMENT PHASES. THE SYSTEM WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL IN 1977, BUT PLANS FOR EXPANDING AND IMPROVING THE SYSTEM CONTINUE. OBSCIS DEVELOPMENT EXPENDITURES TOTALED $305,000 ($72,000 FOR DATA-PROCESSING EQUIPMENT, $171,000 FOR DEVELOPMENT OF SOFTWARE, $36,000 FOR ASSEMBLY OF THE INITIAL DATA BASE, $26,000 FOR THE PROJECT COORDINATOR'S TIME) PLUS $125,000 FOR DEVELOPMENT OF AUTOMATED OFFENDER RECORDS SYSTEMS PRIOR TO INITIATION OF OBSCIS. FLOWCHARTS ILLUSTRATE THE ARIZONA'S OBSCIS (TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK, INFORMATION FLOW, ETC.) AND THE SYSTEM'S PROCEDURES (INPUT TRANSACTIONS, CLERICAL PROCESSING RESPONSIBILITIES AND STAFFING, FILE UPDATING, REPORT GENERATION, REPORT FORMATS). A COST ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT THE ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS OF OBSCIS ARE $145,000, THAT THE MINIMUM COST OF REPLACING OBSCIS WITH THE STATE'S FORMER MANUAL SYSTEM WOULD BE $206,700. OBSCIS, THEREFORE, REPRESENTS AN ANNUAL SAVINGS OF $61,700 OVER THE MANUAL SYSTEM. WHEN ADDITIONAL TANGIBLE BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH IMPLEMENTING OBSCIS ARE ADDED, THE ANNUAL SAVINGS TOTAL $187,700. IN 20 MONTHS, THE TOTAL SAVINGS IN OPERATING COSTS WOULD PAY FOR OBSCIS DEVELOPMENT. A COMPARISON OF THE TOTAL VALUE OF THE TANGIBLE BENEFITS OF OBSCIS TO THE ANNUAL COST OF OPERATING THE SYSTEM PRODUCES A BENEFIT-COST RATIO OF 2:3:1. (LKM)