NCJ Number
188508
Date Published
2001
Length
24 pages
Annotation
This report discusses the nationwide sharing of information collected by governmental agencies at all levels.
Abstract
The focus of this report is on sharing dynamic structured information (e.g., wanted person reports and parole status reports), information used in transaction reporting (e.g., a police department reporting an arrest to a prosecutor), and data collections (e.g., monthly summary reports); it intentionally excludes batch reporting (i.e., deferred transmissions of groups of transactions). The shared information may be character-based, photographs or graphics, fingerprints, page images or facsimiles, or basically any information which can be reduced to a form that can be sent between computers via a telecommunications network. The report claims that shared information is more accurate, because it is collected once, avoiding misunderstandings and keying errors associated with multiple collection; more timely, because it is available instantly; more complete; and less expensive than multiple collection. The report is presented in six broad sections: (1) motivation for sharing governmental information; (2) entities sharing governmental information; (3) shared information scope, general requirements, and transfer types; (4) infrastructure in place and infrastructure required; (5) high-level view of information sharing; and (6) action plan for the next 24 months. Notes, table, glossary