NCJ Number
78982
Date Published
1981
Length
44 pages
Annotation
Minnesota's planning for the development of criminal justice information systems in the 1980's is assessed.
Abstract
Current State policy on the development of criminal justice information systems in Minnesota was established by a coordinating board composed of representatives of State and local criminal justice agencies. The 1976 Master Plan proposed to bind together county and local systems with State agency systems through the Criminal Justice Datacommunications Network. The local systems were to be the primary data collectors, with State agency systems intended to receive data as a byproduct of the original local transaction. Local Subject-In-Process (SIP) systems (tracking criminal justice clients from arrest through correctional discharge) were critical to the conceptualization of the Criminal Justice Information System. However, no local system has yet been implemented as foreseen by the Master Plan. State level systems, however, are largely in place. There has been no formal review of the continued feasibility of the State's policy in information system development. A permanent coordinating function to deal with the problems and issues of the 1980's should be established in the form of a users' group or association which would extend the current informal coordination among State agencies to include local and county agencies. The organization's functions should include promoting communication among State and local users of the Criminal Justice Information System; problem identification, prioritizing, and solution; and the production of a plan for the future of the Criminal Justice Information System. Issues in criminal justice information systems are discussed, and tabular data are provided. (Author abstract modified)