NCJ Number
54088
Date Published
1978
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THE ATTRIBUTES OF DISTRIBUTED DATA-PROCESSING SYSTEMS, THEIR POTENTIAL USE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE PITFALLS TO CONSIDER IN EVALUATING SUCH AN APPROACH ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
THE DISTRIBUTED DATA-PROCESSING SYSTEM ALLOWS FOR STANDARDIZED DATA PROCESSING AT A NUMBER OF FIELD LOCATIONS THROUGH THE USE OF MINICOMPUTERS, WHICH NOT ONLY STORE INFORMATION FOR FIELD USE, BUT TRANSFER IT TO A CENTRAL DATA BASE TO WHICH ALL FIELD COMPUTERS HAVE ACCESS. A MAJOR ADVANTAGE TO THIS APPROACH AS COMPARED TO A SINGLE CENTRAL DATA BASE SYSTEM IS THE REDUCTION OF DATA MOVEMENT FROM THE SOURCE OF THE DATA TO THE CENTRAL SITE. DISTRIBUTION ALSO ALLOWS FOR ACTIVE RECORDS FOR A GIVEN REMOTE LOCATION TO BE STORED AT THAT LOCATION, AND IF THE CENTRAL LOCATION BECOMES UNAVAILABLE, THE HIGH ACTIVITY RECORDS CAN STILL BE PROCESSED. ADVANTAGES ALSO EXIST IN FLEXIBILITY, EASE OF CHANGE, AND COST EFFECTIVENESS. A MAJOR DISADVANTAGE OF THE DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM AS COMPARED TO THE CENTRAL SYSTEM IS THE LOSS OF CONTROL OVER PROCESSING THROUGH DECENTRALIZATION. IN ADDITION, THE ADDED COMPLEXITY OF ADDRESSING AND QUEUEING REQUIREMENTS, RECOVERY PROCEDURES, PRIORITY STANDARDS, AND DATA BASE MANAGEMENT CAN BECOME A DISADVANTAGE WITHOUT PROPER SYSTEM ANALYSIS AND DESIGN. ANY MISTAKES MADE IN THESE AREAS COULD PROVE TO BE MORE COSTLY THAN A SIMILAR DESIGN PROBLEM IN A CENTRALIZED SYSTEM. THE DISTRIBUTED SYSTEM, WHEN APPLIED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT, ALLOWS AN OFFICER TO MAKE RAPID INQUIRIES ABOUT THE IDENTIFICATION OF PEOPLE OR PROPERTY AND ACCESS SEVERAL DATA BASES. THE ADDED COMPLEXITY OF THE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AS COMPARED TO THE CENTRALIZED SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE MINIMIZED, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE INCREASED RESPONSIBILITY ACCOMPANYING DECENTRALIZED CONTROL OVER DATA PROCESSING. THE KEY LIES IN ADEQUATE PLANNING AND DESIGN. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED, AND THE APPENDIX PRESENTS GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE DISTRIBUTED AND CENTRALIZED SYSTEMS. (RCB)