NCJ Number
53222
Date Published
1978
Length
25 pages
Annotation
CONCERNS SURROUNDING THE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATION, AND USE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE IDENTIFIED, AND GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES IN THE FIELD OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE SCOPE AND NATURE OF THE PROBLEMS INHERENT IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE RECORD SYSTEMS ARE OUTLINED, WITH REFERENCE TO THE PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE CONTENT OF ARREST RECORDS, CORRECTIONS INFORMATION, AND INVESTIGATORY MATERIALS CONTAINING INDIVIDUALLY IDENTIFIABLE PERSONAL DATA. CONGRESSIONAL ACTIVITIES RELATED TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION ARE SUMMARIZED, AND PRIORITY ISSUES IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION MANAGEMENT ARE NOTED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THREE KEY FACTORS HAVE STIMULATED THE PURSUIT OF A RATIONAL APPROACH TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS: THE DESIRE TO PROVIDE PROTECTION OF INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY IN A FREE SOCIETY; THE INCREASING USE OF TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS TO COLLECT, STORE, AND DISSEMINATE CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION; AND, IN LIGHT OF LIMITED RESOURCES, THE NEED FOR MORE EFFECTIVE USE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE DATA SYSTEMS. THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S INVOLVEMENT IN SUCH SYSTEMS THROUGH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, LEAA SPECIFICALLY, AND THE FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION'S NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER (NCIC) IS DISCUSSED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO THE CONTROVERSY OVER MESSAGE-SWITCHING, I.E., TRANSMITTING AND ROUTING DATA WITHOUT MANUAL INTERFERENCE, WITHIN NCIC. RELATED ACTIVITIES OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS (NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS, SEARCH GROUP, INC., SCIENTISTS' INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION) ARE ALSO NOTED. FEDERAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS PERTAINING TO PRIVACY AND TO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ARE REVIEWED, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REQUIREMENT THAT ALL STATES SUBMIT SECURITY AND PRIVACY PLANS FOR CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORDS. THE FINDINGS OF A STUDY IN WHICH FACTORS LIMITING STATE COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS IN THE AREA OF INFORMATION PRIVACY AND SECURITY ARE SUMMARIZED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS INVOLVE PRIMARILY ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT CONTROLS, TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS, AND PHILOSOPHICAL CONCERNS (PRIVACY, JURISDICTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES, APPROPRIATENESS OF INFORMATION-HANDLING FUNCTIONS). A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.