NCJ Number
60547
Date Published
1979
Length
222 pages
Annotation
A TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS (PROMIS AND MINI PROMIS SYSTEMS) IS PRESENTED, AS PART OF AN INITIAL FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN PUBLIC DEFENDERS' OFFICES.
Abstract
AN OVERVIEW OF MINI PROMIS (PROSECUTOR'S MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR KEEPING TRACK OF INFORMATION ABOUT CRIMINAL CASES) IS PRESENTED AS A NONTECHNICAL REPORT FOR PERSONS UNFAMILIAR WITH DATA PROCESSING. A DETAILED, FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION OF THE MINI PROMIS SYSTEM, HIGHLY TECHNICAL IN NATURE AND INTENDED FOR THE SYSTEMS ANALYST, FOLLOWS THE GENERAL DESCRIPTION. ALSO INTENDED FOR THE SYSTEMS ANALYST IS A DISCUSSION OF MINI PROMIS'S CAPABILITY TO MEET DEFENDER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM NEEDS IN A DEDICATED ENVIRONMENT--A SYSTEM WHICH IS USED BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER ALONE, NOT SHARED WITH THE PROSECUTOR. THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THIS SYSTEM ARE ANALYZED. IN ADDITION, THE VIABILITY OF MINI PROMIS WHEN SHARED WITH OTHER DEFENDERS, PROSECUTORS, ETC., IS DISCUSSED, AND TWO OTHER SHARED MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS'S) ARE EXAMINED. FINALLY, ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES ARE DETAILED, INVOLVING SEVERAL LESS COMPREHENSIVE MIS'S FOR USE BY DEFENDERS WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE MINI PROMIS SYSTEM. METHODS FOR EXAMINATION OF MINI PROMIS INVOLVED STAFF OBSERVATIONS OF A DUMMY PROTOTYPE VERSION OF MINI PROMIS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.; ATTENDANCE OF A 2-DAY PROMIS USER GROUP MEETING; VISITS TO THE PROMIS OFFICES IN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND OTHER LOCATIONS; AND MEETINGS WITH THE DATA PROCESSING STAFF OF VARIOUS PROMIS SITES. AS A RESULT OF THESE ANALYSES AND CONVERSATIONS, STAFF MEMBERS CONCLUDED THAT MINI PROMIS WAS THE MOST EFFECTIVE SYSTEM FOR HANDLING DEFENDER MANAGEMENT INFORMATION NEEDS, LEADING TO THIS DETAILED STUDY OF THE SYSTEM. A GLOSSARY, BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED.