COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM - A CASE STUDY (FROM PROJECT SEARCH - INTERNATIONAL SYPMPOSIUM ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION AND STATISTICS SYSTEMS PROCEEDINGS, 1972, BY GARY COOPER - SEE NCJ-09380)

• NCJ Number: 48293
• Author(s): S D CONTI; R J PARKER; R A WEBER
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 10 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice; Project Search (See Search Group Inc)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE AUTOMATED CRIMINAL COURT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED IN PASSAIC COUNTY AND HUDSON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY, ARE DESCRIBED. BOTH COUNTRIES ARE LARGE, AND URBAN WITH LARGE BACKLOGS AND WORKLOADS.

Abstract

THE SYSTEM EMPLOYED IN PASSAIC OPERATES IN A BATCH MODE REQUIRING USE OF A COMPUTER CENTER. THE COMPUTER CENTER IS PHYSICALLY REMOTE FROM THE DATA COLLECTION SOURCE AND HAS NO TELEPROCESSING HOOKUP. KEYPUNCH CARDS ARE HAND-CARRIED TO THE CENTER ONCE WEEKLY. THE SYSTEM IS IMPLEMENTED ON A SYSTEM/360 MODEL 40 UNDER DISK OPERATING SYSTEM AND UTILIZES COBOL. IN THE INFROMATION CONCEPT INPLEMENTED IN BOTH COUNTIES, THE JUDICIAL PROCESS IS VIEWED AS A SERIES OF MILESTONES OR EVENTS LEADING FROM ARREST TO SENTENCING AND POSTCONVICTION PROCESSING. SPECIFIC STEPS CONSIDERED IN THE AUTOMATED SYSTEM ARE ARREST, MAGISTRATE PRELIMINARY HEARING, JAIL/BAIL ACTION, PROBABLE CAUSE HEARING, GRAND JURY, WARRANTS, ARRAIGNMENTS, MOTIONS, TRIAL, SENTENCE, AND POSTSENTENCE. AN IMPORTANT PHASE OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PASSAIC PROJECT WAS THE COORDINATION OF PROJECT GOALS THROUGH MEETINGS WHICH INVOLVED THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANCILLIARY AGENCIES (SHEFIFF, PROSECUTOR, PUBLIC DEFENDER, WARDEN, PROBATION, GRAND JURY, AND POLICE). AT PRESENT AN INFORMATION SYSTEMS OFFICER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING CONTROL OVER FILES. ONCE AN ON-LINE INTERACTIVE SYSTEM BECOMES OPERATIONAL, MORE ADVANCED HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE PRIVACY TECHNIQUES WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND LIMIT ACCESS. FILE CONVERSION PROBLEMS WERE A MAJOR SOURCE OF IMPLEMENTATION DELAY. THE HUDSON COUNTY AUTOMATED CRIMINAL CASE PROCESSING SYSTEM IS A REAL-TIME MINICOMPUTER SYSTEM WITH 10 MILLION CHARACTERS OF STORAGE ON A DISK, WHICH IS INSTANTANEOUSLY ACCESSIBLE. THE SYSTEM OPERATES WITHIN THE COURTHOUSE, IS EASILY ACCESSIBLE TO JUCICIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL, AND REQUIRES VIRTUALLY NO SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS. SAVINGS IN OPERATION COSTS OF THE MINICOMPUTER SYSTEM OVER A COMPARABLE LARGE-SCALE SYSTEM HAVE ENABLED THE COUNTY TO DEVELOP THE INITIAL ENVIRONMENT AS AN ON-LINE INTERACTIVE SYSTEM. A BENEFIT OF THE REAL-TIME SYSTEM HAS BEEN THE EARLY INCLUSION OF THE POLICE AND PROSECUTOR INFORMATION SOURCES AND REQUIREMENTS. THE SYSTEM HAS BECOME THE FOCUS OF CALENDARING RESPONSIBILITY. MODULAR AND FLEXIBLE EXPANSION OF CAPABILITIES IS PROJECTED AND WILL EVENTUALLY INCLUDE BUDGET CONTROL, RESOURCE ALLOCATION, PERSONNEL FILES, AND SIMULATIONS. A SIMPLIFIED MILESTONE CHART OF CRIMINAL CASE PROCESSING, A CHART OF MILESTONE SCHEDULING AND REPORTING, AND A LISTING OF WORKSHEETS, REPORTS, LISTS, AND STATISTICAL AND DEFENDANT DATA ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)