Promising Practices in the Use of Data and Justice Information Sharing: A Self-Evaluation Resource for California Counties

• NCJ Number: 250130
• Date Published: June 2016
• Length: 22 pages
• Agencies: OJP-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Technical Assistance); Report (Grant Sponsored); Instructional Material

Annotation

This report provides California county corrections organizations with general guidelines and model practices for justice system data collection and information-sharing, so as to improve returns on State and local corrections investments.

Abstract

At the request of and in consultation with the California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Justice Programs (OJP) Diagnostic Center sponsored an evaluation of the BSCC's current data-collection strategies, systems, methodologies and processes, leading to recommendations on how to improve county-level data collection and information sharing. The primary outcome of this effort was the development of a self-evaluation checklist for California counties to follow in adhering to sound data and information-sharing principles. The checklist is based in guidelines for adhering to four principles. First, use national approaches in supporting interoperability. This includes leveraging the effective use of the Global-supported policy and technical recommendations, the National Information Exchange Model, national strategies, and national capabilities. A second principle is to use data to support informed justice and public-safety decisionmaking. This involves building and delivering capabilities for managing, integrating, and analyzing vast stores of information. A third principle for the checklist is the development of responsible information-sharing policies, practices, and values. Among the activities and strategies supportive of this principle are prioritizing responsible information-sharing by connecting existing networks and systems with strong identity, access, and discovery capabilities. The fourth principle of the checklist is cross-boundary information-sharing and collaboration. Among the activities and strategies supportive of this principle is the development of approaches with input from all involved stakeholders. Tips, guidelines, and resources are outlined for the implementation of each of the four principles.