NCJ Number
153217
Journal
West Virginia Criminal Justice Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (August 1993) Pages: 21-24
Date Published
1993
Length
4 pages
Annotation
West Virginia's criminal records system is undergoing improvements that will make the system more accurate, complete, and timely.
Abstract
Currently, records are kept, stored, and retrieved both manually and electronically, with criminal justice agencies, in some instances, unable to access and share information in a timely fashion. Agencies are uncertain as to what data other agencies collect or what the data needs of other agencies are. There is an increasing need for criminal records by criminal justice and noncriminal justice agencies that is placing further burdens on the records system. Improvements to the system will address these problems by modernizing equipment and improving communication between criminal justice agencies and also with noncriminal justice agencies. These improvements will enable criminal justice agencies to keep complete data and facilitate the sharing of information in an accurate and timely fashion. A criminal records improvement task force has been established by the Criminal Justice and Highway Safety Office to help in the establishment of record improvement priorities, provide guidance in the development of West Virginia's record improvement plan, and coordinate use of the yearly 5-percent set-aside funding. The task force is composed of representatives from law enforcement, courts, corrections, prosecutors, and State government. The priorities, as established by the records improvement task force, are the automation of criminal records at the State's central repository, linkages between criminal justice agencies to allow access to data, streamlining the records system by eliminating redundant information, provision of computer hardware and software to those who enter and access data, and education for users of a statewide data system if developed.