CRIMINAL LAW UNIFORM ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM (CLUES) - A PROGRAM EVALUATION OF TWENTY-FIVE SUBGRANTS

• NCJ Number: 38938
• Author(s): T R DECAMPLI; S M BLINDMAN
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 56 pages
• Corporate Author: Delaware Criminal Justice Planning Cmssn
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

EVALUATION OF A COMPUTERIZED CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STORAGE AND RAPID RETRIEVAL OF INFORMATIONAL STATISTICS RELATING TO POLICE, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

Abstract

SINCE THE PROJECT'S INCEPTION IN 1969, THE DELAWARE AGENCY TO REDUCE CRIME HAS AWARDED 25 GRANTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF THE CRIMINAL LAW UNIFORM ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM (CLUES). THIS REPORT, DATED MAY, 1976, COVERS ONLY THE POLICE, SINCE THEY WERE THE ONLY OPERATIONAL COMPONENT OF CLUES AT THAT TIME. HOWEVER, THE JUDICIARY AND CORRECTIONS HAVE COMPLETED PRELIMINARY STUDIES OF THEIR DATA NEEDS AND ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS IN PREPARATION FOR THEIR EVENTUAL PARTICIPATION. SOME OF THE MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE INVESTIGATION INCLUDED THE FOLLOWING: THE VALUE OF THE SYSTEM WAS APPARENTLY OVERESTIMATED IN TERMS OF USEFULNESS, THERE IS A NARROWNESS OF OPERATIONAL CONTROL, AND COMPUTER RESPONSE TIME AND DOWNTIME NEED TO BE IMPROVED. REGARDLESS OF THE PROBLEMS, CLUES WAS SEEN AS A DEFINITE BENEFIT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. PARTICULARLY NOTED WAS THE FACT THAT THE MAJORITY OF OFFICERS IN THE FIELD FELT THAT THEIR PERSONAL SAFETY HAD INCREASED AS A RESULT OF CLUES. THE TEXT ALSO CONTAINS APPENDICES WITH BUDGET INFORMATION AND REPRINTS OF QUESTIONNAIRES THAT WERE USED IN THE INVESTIGATION. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)