NCJ Number
44770
Date Published
1976
Length
16 pages
Annotation
PROMIS II -- A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS PROSECUTORS AND POLICE TO QUERY THE PROMIS COMPUTER AND RECEIVE IMMEDIATE ANSWERS -- IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
PROMIS II IS AN ON-LINE, REAL-TIME VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL PROMIS LEAA EXEMPLARY PROJECT. THE PROMIS II USER TYPES HIS QUESTION ON THE KEYBOARD OF A REMOTE TERMINAL AND READS THE ANSWER ON THE TERMINAL'S TELEVISION-LIKE SCREEN. AS IMPLEMENTED IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, PROMIS II USES THE PROMIS DATA BASE, WHICH INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY 170 ITEMS OF INFORMATION FOR EACH CASE, TO ANSWER QUERIES ON DEFENDANTS, COURT DOCKET NUMBERS, POLICE OFFICERS, CASE-AGING, DATES, AND WITNESSES. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES OF THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE THROUGH PROMIS II: INDICATION OF WHETHER A GIVEN DEFENDANT HAS OTHER CASES PENDING; PERTINENT FACTS ABOUT ANY PENDING CASE; THE NUMBER AND STATUS OF ALL PENDING CASES INVOLVING A GIVEN POLICE OFFICER; A LIST OF CASES THAT HAVE BEEN PENDING FOR A GIVEN PERIOD OF TIME (OF USE IN MONITORING DELAYS); LISTS OF CASES SCHEDULED FOR TRIAL ON A GIVEN DATE; AND A LIST OF PENDING CASES INVOLVING A GIVEN WITNESS. PROMIS II CAN BE LINKED TO OTHER INFORMATION SYSTEMS SUCH AS WANTED PERSONS FILES OR STOLEN VEHICLE FILES, TO PROVIDE PROSECUTORS WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON DEFENDANTS. THE ON-LINE INQUIRY PACKAGE DESIGNED TO FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROMIS II IS DESCRIBED BRIEFLY. THE USE OF INQUIRY TERMINALS FOR ON-LINE DATA ENTRY IS DISCUSSED, AND THE CONTENT OF AN ON-LINE DATA ENTRY PACKAGE IS NOTED. FOR OTHER ISSUES IN THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ 44750-44769.