RECORDS SYSTEM ASSESSMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIFICATIONS FOR A COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM - POLICE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPORT

• NCJ Number: 46492
• Author(s): M R STEWART
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 11 pages
• Contract Number(s): J-LEAA-002-76
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: Public Admin Service
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ANALYSIS OF THE MANUAL RECORDKEEPING SYSTEM OF THE NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE WHETHER INSTALLATION OF A COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM COULD ALLEVIATE EXISTING PROBLEMS.

Abstract

A THOROUGH EXAMINATION OF THE MANUAL SYSTEM INVOLVED ANALYSIS OF THE CAPTURE AND FLOW OF ARREST AND INVESTIGATIVE INFORMATION FROM THE FIELD, MANAGEMENT REVIEW OF THIS INFORMATION, DATA PROCESSING BY THE RECORDS BUREAU AND OTHER UNITS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, AND THE DISTRIBUTION AND USE OF DATA GATHERED BY THE SYSTEM. A 200-PERCENT INCREASE IN POLICE SERVICE CALLS OCCURRED IN 1972-1977, OVERLOADING THE FILE UPDATE AND NAME INDEX FUNCTIONS AS WELL AS INVESTIGATIVE AND ARREST DATA. FUTURE NEEDS WERE DETERMINED, AND PURGE CRITERIA AND PRACTICE WERE ASSESSED. IN ADDITION, INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH KEY PERSONNEL TO DOCUMENT FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SYSTEM AND TO DETERMINE USER DATA NEEDS NOT BEING MET BY THE MANUAL SYSTEM. AMONG PROBLEMS FOUND WERE FILE ERRORS, LIMITED AND UNTIMELY STATISTICAL REPORTS, UNTIMELY DISSEMINATION OF OPERATIONAL DATA, INADEQUATE OPERATIONAL DATA, A LACK OF FACILITY FOR CASE MONITORING, AND A FILE SIZE TOO LARGE TO BE EFFICIENTLY PROCESSED ON A MANUAL BASIS. ON THE BASIS OF THESE FINDINGS, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A COMPUTER SYSTEM CAPABLE OF PROVIDING TIMELY OPERATIONAL AND STATISTICAL DATA BE ESTABLISHED, THAT PURGE PROCEDURES BE DEVELOPED AND IMPLEMENTED, AND THAT MICROFILMING BE LIMITED TO ACTIVE RECORDS. SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE FOR THE PROPOSED COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM ARE MADE. INSTALLATION OF A TELECOMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITY IS ALSO SUGGESTED. THE PROPOSED COMPUTER SYSTEM SHOULD SUPPORT OFFLINE AND ONLINE STORAGE CAPABILITIES FOR A VARIETY OF ARREST, OFFENSE, AND ADMINISTRATIVE/MANAGEMENT DATA. FURTHER SUGGESTIONS ARE MADE FOR GRADUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM AS REQUIRED AND PERMITTED BY BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS AND FOR TRAINING OF PERSONNEL AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUITABLE SOFTWARE. (JAP)