NCJ Number
46139
Date Published
1976
Length
76 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DOCUMENTS THE SCOPE OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT'S COMPLIANCE WITH NEW PRIVACY REGULATIONS APPLYING TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS WHICH STORE CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS.
Abstract
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT (MPD) MAINTAINS VARIOUS INTERNAL RECORD SYSTEMS AND FILES WHICH CONTAIN CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION. SOME FILES SERVE SPECIALIZED LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN AGGREGATE CRIMINAL HISTORY. PORTIONS OF THE MPD FILES ARE MANUAL, PARTIALLY AUTOMATED, OR COMPLETELY AUTOMATED. THE MOST COMPLETE FILE OF CRIMINAL HISTORY INFORMATION IS MAINTAINED IN THE MANUAL RECORDS OF THE MPD IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDS DIVISION, WHICH CONTAINS EXTENSIVE HISTORICAL INFORMATION RELATING TO CRIMINAL CHARGES AND SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITIONS ON INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED BY THE MPD. THE MPD HAS BEEN CONSOLIDATING THE MANUAL RECORDS INTO ONE CENTRAL FILE, COPYING THEM TO MICROFICHE TO ALLOW MORE RAPID ACCESS AND RETRIEVAL, AND IN PREPARATION FOR A COMPUTERIZED CRIMINAL HISTORY SYSTEM, SETTING UP AN AUTOMATED IDENTIFICATION INDEX WHICH CONTAINS THE BASIC IDENTIFYING INFORMATION FOR ALL PERSONS ARRESTED BY THE MPD. THIS DOCUMENT PRESENTS THE PRIVACY PLAN FOR THE CONTENT AREAS OF THESE CRIMINAL HISTORY FILES AND DETAILS THE SAFEGUARDS AND ACCESS PROCEDURES DESIGNED TO GUARANTEE THEIR INTEGRITY AND PREVENT THEIR UNAUTHORIZED USE. THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS REGARDING THE SECURITY OF CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS ARE REVIEWED, AS ARE THE EXISTING PROCEDURES BY WHICH THE VARIOUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM COMPONENTS -- POLICE, PROSECUTION, COURTS, BAIL AGENCY, PAROLE BOARD, AND OFFICE OF CRIME ANALYSIS -- REPORT DISPOSITIONS TO THE CENTRAL REPOSITORY. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF ACCESS AND REVIEW ARE ALSO EXAMINED IN TERMS OF IDENTITY VERIFICATION, CONTENT CHALLENGE, ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW AND APPEAL, INFORMATION SUBJECT TO REVIEW, CORRECTION PROCEDURES, AND PUBLIC NOTICE OF RIGHTS OF ACCESS. AUDITS AND QUALITY CONTROL ARE ALSO DISCUSSED. UNDER THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS, AUDIT FUNCTIONS MUST BE ESTABLISHED TO ASSURE THE COMPLETENESS AND ACCURACY OF CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS. A SYSTEMATIC AUDIT SERVES AN ONGOING QUALITY CONTROL FUNCTION INVOLVING ACCURACY CHECKS CONDUCTED AS INFORMATION IS CHANGED, ADDED, OR DELETED. THE ANNUAL AUDIT IS CONDUCTED BY AN OUTSIDE AGENCY WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF APPRAISING THE EXTENT TO WHICH RECORDKEEPING PRACTICES ARE CONSISTENT WITH FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND THE MPD PRIVACY PLAN. SANCTION MAY BE IMPOSED AGAINST ANY COMPONENT OR USER AGENCY FOUND IN VIOLATION OF DESIGNATED PRACTICES. APPENDIXES ARE PROVIDED, LISTING THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AGENCIES COVERED BY DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REGULATIONS AND CONTAINING THE CERTIFICATION STATEMENTS.