NCJ Number
45138
Date Published
1977
Length
14 pages
Annotation
PERSONNEL PROBLEMS THAT HAVE ACCOMPANIED THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE PROBLEM OF MISUNDERSTANDING AND POOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DATA-PROCESSING PERSONNEL EXISTS BOTH AT THE MANAGERIAL LEVEL AND AT THE LEVEL OF THE PATROL OFFICER, THE INVESTIGATOR, AND THE COMPUTER TECHNICIAN. THE SHIFTING OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR DATA COLLECTION TO UNITS OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW OF DATA PROCESSING HAS CREATED OTHER PROBLEMS, E.G., THE 'INSTANT COMPUTER EXPERT,' AND ROLE CONFUSION FOR POLICE MANAGERS AND ADMINISTRATORS ASSIGNED, DATA-PROCESSING FUNCTIONS. ALTHOUGH THE ASSIGNMENT OF AN EXPERIENCED POLICE OFFICER TO COMPUTER PROGRAMMING DUTIES HAS ADVANTAGES, THE OFFICER'S PRIMARY VALUE IN THE PROGRAMMING ROLE TENDS TO DECLINE THE LONGER HE REMAINS OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM OF DEPARTMENT EVENTS. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE WASHINGTON, D.C., METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT IN IMPLEMENTING ITS COMPUTERIZED DATA-PROCESSING SYSTEM ILLUSTRATES SOME OF THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY LACK OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN SYSTEM USERS AND DATA PROCESSORS. TO ESTABLISH BETTER RAPPORT, THE DEPARTMENT CHANGED THE MANNER IN WHICH IT DESIGNED NEW SYSTEM APPLICATIONS AND TRAINED DATA-PROCESSING PERSONNEL AND COMPUTER SERVICE USERS. ACTIVITIES IN THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY AND ELSEWHERE THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND DATA-PROCESSING PERSONNEL ARE SUGGESTED. (LKM)