NCJ Number
38781
Date Published
1973
Length
18 pages
Annotation
DATED NOVEMBER 14, 1973, THIS REPORT ASSESSES THE DATA COLLECTION AND STORAGE ABILITIES OF FIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WITHIN TWO WASHINGTON COUNTIES TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A COMMON DATA CENTER.
Abstract
THE AGENCIES STUDIED WERE THE PASCO POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE KENNEWICK POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE RICHLAND POLICE, AND THE BENTON COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THESE FIVE AGENCIES SERVE OVER 100,000 POPULATION, WITH NEARLY 80,000 OF THIS POPULATION LOCATED IN AN AREA OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES IN DIAMETER. THIS STUDY REVIEWED THE REPORT FORMS USED TO GATHER DATA BY ALL THE AGENCIES AND MADE ON-SITE VISITS TO DETERMINE THE QUALITY AND ADAPTABILITY OF EXISTING RECORDS MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. THE EXISTING FORMS WERE FOUND TO BE UNACCEPTABLE FOR AN ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING SYSTEM. THE ASSESSMENT OF THE RECORDS-KEEPING FACILITIES OF ALL DEPARTMENTS SHOWED THAT NONE OF THEM LENT THEMSELVES TO DIRECT INPUT TO A DATA SYSTEM DUE TO THE WIDE VARIETY OF FILES MAINTAINED AND THE NON-UNIFORM NATURE OF THE DATA COLLECTED. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS FOR A COMMON ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING CAPABILITY ARE LISTED AND INTERIM DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERATIONS ARE OUTLINED. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE AGENCIES WORK TOWARD AGREEING UPON A UNIFORM METHOD OF COLLECTING AND STORING DATA; THAT BACKGROUND STATISTICAL APPROACHES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED USING PRESENT ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING CAPABILITY, ACCOMMODATING IDENTIFIED MANAGEMENT NEEDS; AND THAT A FULL CAPABILITY ON-LINE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM, WITH MINIMUM CRITERIA OF NAME INDEXING AND PROVIDING THAT DATA NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE OFFICER IN THE FIELD SHOULD BE DEVELOPED.