NCJ Number
83189
Date Published
1981
Length
10 pages
Annotation
The Crime Record Information Management System (CRIMS), developed through the joint efforts of the city police department and county sheriff's department in Sumter County, S. C., promotes information sharing on suspects and crime trends.
Abstract
The system was designed to provide both the information unique to each agency and the information appropriate for sharing. CRIMS contains 14 interrelated files on such subjects as warrants, stolen property, suspects, and property losses. These files can be used separately or together in any combination by divisions of either department. Data entry and searches are structured so that clerical help, line officers, and dispatchers can operate the system. Whenever possible, the computer has been used to replace entry and editing that would normally be done by a human operator. Three of the main files are generated automatically from data entered in other files. In addition, data entered in one file may update information previously entered in other files. The system has provided flexible and comprehensive storage, retrieval, and analysis of records. Future growth is assured through the use of an interrelated core design. The system could be adopted by other small and medium-sized agencies with similar needs. Descriptions of each data file are included.