NCJ Number
114576
Date Published
1987
Length
30 pages
Annotation
Telephone interviews were conducted in 1987 to determine types of data collected, reports produced, and extent of computerization within criminal justice agencies in 13 Kentucky Counties with populations over 40,000.
Abstract
One or more agencies in 70 percent of these jurisdictions had begun computerization of information from hard copy. Jails, police departments, and sheriff's offices were chiefly involved in computerization. Over half of the agencies had some computer capabilities. All police departments reported having computers, while only one commonwealth attorney and no circuit court clerk had computers. Of those with computers, 40 percent planned to purchase additional computer equipment. Personal computers were used by two-thirds of the agencies that maintained computerized information. Computerized data collection, although not widespread among agencies, has increased during the last 4 to 5 years. Of agencies, 72 percent reported that only agency and/or law enforcement personnel had access to the information; and 68 percent of the agencies did not produce monthly, quarterly, or annual reports. Statistical analysis packages were used by less than 20 percent of agencies with computers. Projected uses for computerized information systems included bookkeeping, report generation, and maintaining criminal case histories and offender statistics. A criminal justice data inventory is appended. 1 table and 1 figure.