MANAGING DECENTRALIZED DATA INPUTS (FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT DATA PROCESSING SYMPOSIUM - ANNUAL, 2ND, 1978 - SEE NCJ-54083)

• NCJ Number: 54089
• Author(s): G SLOTNICK
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DECENTRALIZED OPERATIONAL DATA INPUTS OF THE PHILADELPHIA (PA.) POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DESCRIBED IN THE AREAS OF MANPOWER REPORTING, ARREST INFORMATION, AND PART ONE OFFENSES.

Abstract

THE PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT, AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING, HAS 47 REMOTE LOCATIONS EQUIPPED WITH CRT TERMINALS AND PRINTERS IN ADDITION TO 31 CRT'S AT ITS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. MANPOWER REPORTING, ARREST DATA PROCESSING, AND PART ONE OFFENSE DATA PROCESSING ARE THREE OF THE TRANSACTION CAPABILITIES. ALL DISTRICTS AND UNITS ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT PERSONNEL AND VEHICLE STRENGTH VIA CRT TERMINALS AT THE START OF EACH TOUR OF DUTY. THE INPUT IS TERMINAL INITIATED BY THE REPORTING DISTRICT OR UNIT. THE SYSTEM DOES THE FOLLOWING: (1) PREFORMATS THE INPUT TERMINAL SCREEN WITH A MAP INPUT, (2) EDITS THE INPUT DATA FOR ACCURACY AND RELEVANCE, (3) CREATES A RECORD FOR THE REPORTING DISTRICT ONLINE MANPOWER FILE, AND (4) RETURNS THE ORIGINAL SCREEN AND ENTRIES ALONG WITH CERTAIN COMPUTED TOTALS AND AN APPROPRIATE SUCCESS MESSAGE. IN ADDITION TO INITIAL DATA ENTRY CAPABILITY, EACH DISTRICT AND UNIT IS CAPABLE OF MAKING AN INQUIRY AND RETRIEVING THE ENTERED MANPOWER TOTALS. THE CONTROL FOR THIS REPORTING IS ASSIGNED TO THE CAPTAIN ATTACHED TO THE POLICE RADIO ROOM. CONTROL IS EXERCISED PRIMARILY THROUGH A TRANSACTION THAT PROVIDES INFORMATION ON THE REPORTING STATUS OF EACH DISTRICT OR UNIT LIABLE UNDER THE REPORTING SYSTEM. THE ARREST INFORMATION FILE IS AN ONLINE FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION ON ALL PERSONS ARRESTED OR TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AND CHARGED WITH A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. THE SLATING DISTRICT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INITIAL ENTRY, AND ALL TERMINALS IN THE NETWORK CAN INQUIRE INTO THE ARREST FILE. THE ONLINE DATA COLLECTION OF ARREST INFORMATION IS CERTIFIED AS TO THE ACCURACY OF BOOKING PROCEDURES, AND THE DAILY PRISONER LOG IS COMPARED TO THE ARREST FILE ENTRIES FOR THE CORRESPONDING 24-HOUR PERIOD. THE PART ONE OFFENSE-REPORTING SYSTEM ENABLES THE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE A DATA COLLECTION FILE OF ALL SUCH OFFENSES COMMITTED DURING THE PREVIOUS 24-HOUR PERIOD. DATA IS ENTERED FROM REMOTE LOCATIONS AND RECORDED IN AN ONLINE FILE. METHODS, SECURITY, EDITS, AND MANAGEMENT CONTROL OF THE MANPOWER, ARREST, AND PART ONE CRIMES SYSTEMS ARE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED. SAMPLES OF COMPUTER SCREENS ARE PROVIDED FOR EACH SYSTEM. (RCB)