NCJ Number
141460
Journal
Large Jail Network Bulletin Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1991) Pages: 2-4
Date Published
1991
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article describes the uses of the computer-aided decision support system (DSS) of the Bernalillo County Detention Center (Albuquerque, New Mexico).
Abstract
A DSS is an organized use of the computer's speed and ability to store, sort, and retrieve information to answer "what if..." questions. At the Bernalillo County Detention Center, the DSS is used to support decisions in the daily operation of the jail, medium-range planning (for example, budget), and long-range planning. The system is also used to provide information to policymakers and administrators of other criminal justice agencies to facilitate and support their decisions. A major use of the system is in classification; it determines which inmates should not interact with one another to prevent violent confrontations. Booking summaries available from the DDS help corrections supervisors determine how many officers to assign to the booking area on their shifts and on certain days of the week. The "what if" feature of the system permits quick predictions of a jail's anticipated average daily population based on various rates of general population growth. Trend charts, which can show historical data in both straight-line trends and fluctuation curves, can be very useful in projecting budgets, activity schedules, and seasonal changes. One of the most important ways a jurisdiction can use a DSS is when it must build a new jail or annex. It can help in the design of a building that will ensure proper space allotment. The DSS is in continuous development as more and more decisionmaking features are incorporated in the computer system. 3 figures