NCJ Number
61572
Date Published
1978
Length
23 pages
Annotation
THE PROSECUTOR'S MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (PROMIS) HAS ASSISTED PROSECUTORS, JUDGES, AND COURT ADMINISTRATORS TO FORM MORE RATIONAL POLICIES BASED ON QUANTITATIVE DATA.
Abstract
THE PROMIS SYSTEM, A TECHNOLOGY THAT NOW SERVES CIVIL AS WELL AS CRIMINAL CASE MANAGEMENT AND APPELLATE AS WELL AS TRIAL COURT NEEDS, WAS DEVELOPED BY THE INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND SOCIAL RESEARCH (INSLAW) UNDER FUNDING FROM LEAA. PROMIS NOW OPERATES IN 20 LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND IS BEING INSTALLED BY OVER 100 LOCAL OR STATE PROSECUTION AND COURT AGENCIES AND BY THE LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. DUE TO ITS SCOPE AND TIME SPAN, PROMIS DATA CAN GIVE INSIGHTS INTO MODERN COURT CASES PARALLEL TO THOSE MADE A HALF-CENTURY AGO; OFFER SOME CLUES TO NORMAL AND ABNORMAL VOLUMES AND PROPORTIONS IN THE COURT SYSTEMS; AND, MOST IMPORTANT, PROMPT NEW NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE INITIATIVES, SUCH AS HAPPENED WITH THE CAREER CRIMINAL PROGRAM AND THE VICTIM-WITNESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. BECAUSE OF PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH PROMIS DATA ANALYSIS STATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES HAVE INITIATED RESEARCH TO IMPROVE POLICE COLLECTION OF EVIDENCE AND IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE CITIZEN WITNESS; HAVE REFORMED BAIL DECISIONMAKING, AND HAVE IMPROVED THE COURT PROCESS, FAIRNESS AND CONSISTENCY OF SENTENCING DECISIONS, PLEA BARGAINING, AND THE HANDLING OF SEXUAL ASSAULT CASES. OPERATIONAL USES OF PROMIS FOR COURT, PROSECUTION, AND POLICE AGENCIES IS DISCUSSED, AND THE PROMIS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROGRAM IS OUTLINED. (AOP)