NCJ Number
53236
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 45 Issue: 5 Dated: (MAY 1978) Pages: 59-61
Date Published
1978
Length
3 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF KEYSORTING CARDS, WHICH COMBINES NOTCHED HOLES AND A SORTING WAND TO RETRIEVE INFORMATION BY ANY ONE OF A NUMBER OF CLASSIFICATIONS, IS EXPLAINED. THE SYSTEM IS FLEXIBLE AND INEXPENSIVE.
Abstract
KEYSORTING WAS USED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF CHAMPAIGN AND URBANA, ILL., AND THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS CAMPUS POLICE TO SUPPLEMENT COMPUTERIZED SYSTEMS. THE COOPERATIVE COMPUTERIZED PROGRAMS, WHICH WERE FUNDED BY LEAA, INVOLVED A COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH SYSTEM, A JOINT CRISIS INTERVENTION PROGRAM, AND A JOINT STOLEN PROPERTY LOCATOR PROGRAM. HOWEVER, ONLY SELECTED ITEMS FROM THE FIELD CONTACT CARDS FILLED OUT BY PATROL OFFICERS WENT INTO THE COMPUTER. TO RETRIEVE THE REMAINING INFORMATION, TIME-CONSUMING HAND SEARCHING WAS NECESSARY. THE ANSWER WAS THE USE OF KEYSORT CARDS FOR THE FIELD CONTACT REPORT. AFTER THE CARD IS TURNED IN TO THE RECORDS DEPARTMENT, THE HOLES AROUND THE EDGE OF THE CARD ARE NOTCHED FOR RETRIEVAL OF VARIOUS ITEMS OF INFORMATION. USE OF THE SYSTEM TO SORT ALPHABETICALLY, BY RACE OR SUSPECT, BY VEHICLE COLOR, AND BY LICENSE NUMBER IS EXPLAINED. PHOTOGRAPHS ILLUSTRATE THE SYSTEM. THE SIMPLICITY AND ECONOMY OF KEYSORTING ARE EMPHASIZED. IT IS CALLED PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR SMALL POLICE DEPARTMENTS. (GLR)