Automation of Local Police Functions, Summary of Findings: The Spectrum Justice System (SJS)

• NCJ Number: 189028
• Date Published: May 2001
• Length: 13 pages
• Grant Number(s): 97-IJ-CX-K009
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This report describes the redesign of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services' (DCJS) Spectrum Justice System (SJS), a widely used law enforcement records management system originally developed by DCJS technical staff in 1990.

Abstract

To provide a foundation for realizing the long-term vision for SJS, the initial phase of the redesign strategy involved upgrading existing SJS functions to a current state-of-the-art system that includes the introduction of a graphical user interface (GUI), a SQL-compliant relational database, and an open client-server architecture. These initial enhancements allowed patrol and investigative personnel to rapidly enter and retrieve information, update incident and arrest data to an agency database on a real time basis, and process criminal offenders quickly so that officers can return to the street much sooner than would otherwise be possible. Primary objectives of the initial redesign of SJS were to move the current system software from a DOS environment to a 32-bit Windows operating environment; to move from a single screen 80-character input to a standard Windows graphical user interface; to move from a DOS Btrieve data file management system to a more robust Oracle relational database management system; to move from the current, limited operating environment to a more efficient, scalable, multi-user operating environment; to provide the capability to generate management reports on incidents, arrest, and warrant processed by an individual department; and to provide a Year 2000 compliant system. The first phase of the SJS redesign project is the base for subsequent system enhancements and integration with other local, State, and Federal criminal justice systems. The goal for improvement in subsequent design phases is to build upon this base by systematically adding functionality and components to the new SJS product and by expanding the linkages between the new product and other criminal justice systems at both the State and local levels. Also discussed in this report are plans for future SJS functionality, SJS beyond New York State, and technology that supports the redesigned SJS. The report lists the hardware requirements for the redesigned SJS.