NCJ Number
63654
Date Published
1979
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS SYMPOSIUM ADDRESS DISCUSSES MANAGEMENT, OPERATION, IMPLEMENTATION, MAINTENANCE, AND USER TRAINING FOR A SUCCESSFUL COMPUTERIZED CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM.
Abstract
MOST STATES HAVE COMPUTERIZED CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, ALTHOUGH SYSTEMS VARY GREATLY IN SIZE AND COMPLEXITY. THE FIRST WAS DEVELOPED IN 1965, IN SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, TO AID LOCAL POLICE IN REPORTING STOLEN CARS TO STATE AUTHORITIES. BECAUSE SUCCESSFUL MANAGEMENT REQUIRES THAT ALL TASKS SHOULD BE PROPERLY DEFINED AND THAT DESIGNATED PERSONS HAVE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR DOING THEM, ONE PERSON IN AUTHORITY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PLANNING IN THE INFORMATION SYSTEM. IMPLEMENTATION INVOLVES CHANGES IN SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE, WHICH SHOULD BE MADE BY OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS RATHER THAN IN-HOUSE STAFF, AS IN-HOUSE STAFF WILL NOT HAVE THE TIME, WILL BE TOO USED TO THE OLD SYSTEM TO ADEQUATELY DEVELOP THE NEW, AND MAY EXPERIENCE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST. USERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO THINK OF MAINTENANCE AS ACTIVE AND PREVENTIVE RATHER THAN PASSIVE, AND TO RETAIN ADEQUATE MAINTENANCE STAFF. USER SKILL IS BEST MAINTAINED WITH TRAINING MANUALS AND PERIODIC WORKSHOPS (IF TRAINING STAFF IS SMALL). USERS SHOULD MAKE USE OF RELATED TRAINING OFFERED BY STATE POLICE ACADEMIES OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. FINALLY, OPERATIONS CENTERS FOR COMMUNICATION NETWORKS MUST CARRY OUT THE FOLLOWING BASIC FUNCTIONS 24 HOURS EACH DAY: DIAGNOSING NETWORK PROBLEMS, MONITORING SYSTEM FUNCTIONS, PROVIDING A SINGLE SOURCE OF CONTACT FOR USERS, AND EVALUATING THE SYSTEM. (PAP)