MICRODISC INFORMATION RETRIEVAL SYSTEM REGIONALIZATION EVALUATION - POLICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPORT

• NCJ Number: 29992
• Author(s): R L MARX
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 25 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-003-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Westinghouse Justice Institute
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

FEASIBILITY STUDY DATED OCTOBER 31, 1975, OF THE EXPANDABILITY OF A COMBINED MICROFILM/COMPUTER SYSTEM INSTALLED AT THE HARRISBURG (PA) POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Abstract

THIS MICRODISC SYSTEM IS USED FOR THE STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL OF MUG SHOTS, ARREST FINGERPRINT CARDS, AND RAP SHEETS. THE STATE PLANNING AGENCY WANTED TO KNOW THE EXPANDABILITY OF THE SYSTEM TO SERVE OTHER USERS (SMALLER POLICE DEPARTMENTS) IN THE AREA, INCLUDING THE DESIRABILITY OF SUCH EXPANSION, THE EXPANSION CAPABILITY OF THE SYSTEM, A REASONABLE ORGANIZATIONAL FORMAT FOR SHARING THE FACILITY, AND THE EXPECTED COSTS AND BENEFITS OF SUCH SHARING. POTENTIAL USERS OF THE SYSTEM INCLUDE AT LEAST 12 POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND POSSIBLY AS MANY AS 25, IN THE IMMEDIATE GEOGRAPHICAL VICINITY OF HARRISBURG. THE TOTAL POPULATION SERVED BY SUCH A SHARED SYSTEM COULD BE AS HIGH AS 200,000 DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED. STUDY FINDINGS INDICATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE HARRISBURG MICRODISC SYSTEM COULD BE EXPANDED, EXPANSION TO ITS FULL CAPACITY COULD RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN RESPONSE TIME. IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT, IN LIGHT OF A LACK OF DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE THAT THE AREA CONSTITUTES A TRUE SOCIOLOGICAL REGION, THERE WAS NO OVERWHELMING REASON TO PUSH REGIONALIZATION OF RECORDS. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDED CONDUCTING A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE PATTERNS OF CRIMINAL MOBILITY IN THE GREATER HARRISBURG AREA AND THE SUBMISSION OF SYSTEM EXPANSION COST FIGURES. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)