NCJ Number
58422
Date Published
1978
Length
539 pages
Annotation
AN OVERFLOW PLUS TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION DESCRIBES AN INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM BASED ON THE PROSECUTOR'S MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (PROMIS) BUT DESIGNED FOR USE ON ANY OF SEVERAL BRANDS OF MINICOMPUTERS.
Abstract
THE SOFTWARE IS WRITTEN IN ANSI COBOL, A SUBSET OF COBOL USED BY 10 MINICOMPUTER MANUFACTURERS. IT CAN BE ADDED TO OR MODIFIED INEXPENSIVELY TO MEET THE NEEDS OF A LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCY. MINI PROMIS CAN TRACK ARREST, FOLLOW COURT CASES THROUGH THE SYSTEM, LIST WITNESSES, AND PRODUCE OPERATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT REPORTS. THE SYSTEM ALSO CALLS FORTH ON-LINE INFORMATION IN A CONVERSATIONAL MANNER. DEPENDING ON LOCAL MODIFICATIONS THE SYSTEM CAN DISPLAY NAMES OF DEFENDANTS, WITNESSES, POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED, ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES, DEFENDANT IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS AND OTHER PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS, OFFENSE DATA, BAIL STATUS, STATUS OF APPEALS, AND SIMILAR INFORMATION. THIS INFORMATION CAN BE RETRIEVED BY A VARIETY OF IDENTIFIERS--DEFENDANT NAME OR NUMBER, CASE NUMBER, WITNESS NAME, ASSIGNED JUDGE OR PROSECUTOR, TRIAL DATE, AND SO ON. THE SYSTEM MAY BE USED TO SCHEDULE CASES, IDENTIFY CASE BACKLOGS, STORE AND RETRIEVE DOCKET ENTRIES, AND PRINT OUT CASE STATUS AND AGING REPORTS (SUCH AS ALL INDICATED FELONIES AWAITING TRIAL FOR MORE THAN 45 DAYS). THE TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION SERVES AS AN INTRODUCTION FOR SYSTEMS MANAGERS. IT INCLUDES SAMPLE PRINTOUTS, SAMPLE COBOL COMMANDS, DESCRIPTIONS OF MODIFICATIONS POSSIBLE, AND A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE CAMDEN COUNTY, N.J., VERSION OF THE MINI PROMIS DATA ELEMENT DICTIONARY. EACH JURISDICTION USING MINI PROMIS CAN GENERATE ITS OWN DICTIONARY. AN APPENDIX LISTS TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN A USER GUIDE TO BE ISSUED LATER. (GLR)