NCJ Number
219977
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 34 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2007 Pages: 98,100,105
Date Published
July 2007
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The FBI is getting ready to launch the Law Enforcement National Data Exchange (N-DEx), a means by which local incident, arrest, and event reports can be shared nationwide.
Abstract
Prior to N-DEx, there had been a gap in information sharing among law enforcement agencies in different jurisdictions and at various governmental levels. Information gained by a law enforcement incident in one jurisdiction could not be accessed by an agency in another jurisdiction. When police officers stop a vehicle for even routine traffic stops, they cannot obtain a complete profile of the person's criminal history from mobile technology provided in patrol cars or even from dispatchers. N-DEx will attempt to orchestrate an integrated information-sharing system by harmonizing data entered into local law enforcement systems for common search by agencies anywhere in the United States. The law enforcement community no longer considers it acceptable that offenders routinely evade apprehension because local police have no access to a person's law enforcement contacts in other jurisdictions. National law enforcement organizations, such as the National Sheriffs' Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, have signed off on the N-DEx concept, provided local agency input is included in design planning and adequate Federal funding is provided for local participation. Local funding is critical, because the information supplied to the N-DEx database comes from local and State agencies. The success and use of N-DEx will also depend on data accuracy, data privacy and security, and a sound architecture.