NCJ Number
50073
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 26 Issue: 7 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 16-20
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE POLICE AUTOMATED CASE ENTRY AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEM (PACERS) IN USE IN THE INDIANAPOLIS, IND., POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DESCRIBED, AND ITS APPLICATIONS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
FROM THE PACERS DATA, THE COMPUTER AUTOMATICALLY PRODUCES REPORTS AND ANALYSES OF VARIOUS KINDS EITHER PERIODICALLY OR ON REQUEST. IT ANALYZES CRIME BY TYPE, LOCALE, AND TIME OF DAY. IT SHOWS RADIO RUNS, MANPOWER RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS, TRAFFIC-TICKET DENSITY, AND PREDICTS TRENDS. THIS ACTIVITY GREATLY INCREASES THE TIME A POLICE OFFICER CAN SPEND ON THE STREET. PACERS SYSTEM ALSO DECREASES THE TIME SPENT DETAINING A SUSPECT WHILE INFORMATION IS BEING CHECKED. INPUT PROCEDURES INVOLVED IN ADDING REPORTS TO THE DATA BASE ARE DESCRIBED. THE INFORMATION CAN BE IMMEDIATELY RETRIEVED AFTER INPUT, AND THE FULL TEXT OF THE INCIDENT REPORT IS KEPT ON-LINE FOR ONE MONTH; INDEX ENTRIES ARE KEPT LONGER. THE CAPACITY AND FEATURES OF THE SYSTEM ARE DISCUSSED ALONG WITH VARIOUS APPLICATIONS INCLUDING COMPUTER-ASSISTED DISPATCHING, CREATION OF A SUMMONS SYSTEM FOR MOVING VIOLATIONS, AND MAINTENANCE OF CRIME AND ARREST STATISTICS. PACERS ALONG WITH THE COMPUTER HAS ABSORBED THE CROSS INDEXING DUTIES, CURTAILED THE INCREASE IN CLERICAL PERSONNEL, AND HELPED IN DEALING WITH ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS. (DAG)