NCJ Number
161291
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 65 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1996) Pages: 18-21
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The police department in Fresno, California, implemented a flexible system of police discipline in which records of the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) were automated to identify discipline levels for specific violations.
Abstract
After acquiring appropriate computer hardware and software, IAU staff surveyed major California police agencies to locate automated internal affairs record systems for use as a model. The only one they found did not meet their objectives so they designed their own system. The resulting database contained 17 date fields used to track police discipline cases from start to finish, precise incident details, demographics of complainant and/or involved police employee, incident codes covering most police misconduct categories, disposition codes, cross-references to databases on civil claims and police officer-involved shootings, and a synopsis of all sustained violations using searchable key words. The automation project was initiated by the police chief to administer discipline equitably and to ensure that the police department could defend its actions readily if challenged by the Civil Service Board. The resulting automated system has saved time and money, identified patterns in complaints against the police, and improved case management. 5 endnotes and 1 photograph