GEOGRAPHIC BASE FILES ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES (FROM GBF GEOGRAPHIC BASE FILES) USERS GROUP REPORTS, 1977 - SEE NCJ-67242)

• NCJ Number: 67251
• Author(s): D E LYON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: International Assoc of Chiefs of Police
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: NCJ 67251 AVAILABLE ON MICROFICHE FROM NCJRS UNDER NCJ 67242.

Annotation

THE KANSAS CITY, MO., COMPUTER SYSTEM HAS A GEOGRAPHIC BASE FILE THAT HAS DEVELOPED TO THE POINT WHERE IT NEEDS SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL TO MAINTAIN THE DATA COLLECTION AND INPUT FUNCTIONS.

Abstract

THE KANSAS CITY ALERT SYSTEM WAS DEVELOPED IN THE LATE 1960'S TO PROVIDE RAPID ACCESS TO INFORMATION NEEDED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OTHER PARTICIPATING AGENCIES. POLICE OFFICERS HELPED TO DEVELOP THE GEOGRAPHIC BASE FILE. THE FILE IS SIMILAR TO THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU ADDRESS CODING GUIDE IN THAT IS HAS A BLOCK-FACE FILE, USES TRACTS AND BLOCKS AS PRIMARY GEOCODES, AND WAS CODED USING THE U.S. CENSUS BUREAU METROPOLITAN MAP SERIES. THE FILE ALSO CONTAINS BOTH CENSUS INFORMATION AND GEOCODES FOR POLICE BEATS. THE PRIME USERS OF THE FILE REPORTS ARE THE CRIME INFORMATION UNIT, THE TRAFFIC ANALYSIS UNIT, THE OPERATIONS RESOURCE UNIT, AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYSIS DIVISION. AN ONLINE SYSTEM OF INQUIRIES PROVIDES IMMEDIATE CENSUS TRACT AND BLOCK INFORMATION ON BOTH PART I AND PART II OFFENSES AND ACCIDENT INFORMATION. SEARCH PARAMETERS ALLOW ACCESS BY INDIVIDUAL AND MULTIPLE TRACT AND BLOCK, POLICE BEATS OR SECTORS, AND THE TOTAL CITY. SWORN OFFICERS DO NOT HAVE FORMAL TRAINING BUT ARE INSTRUCTED IN HOW TO RETRIEVE INFORMATION. HOWEVER, A FULL-TIME CLERK POSITION HAS BECOME NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE FILE. THE CLERK MUST POSSESS KNOWLEDGE OF THE CITY, ABILITY TO WORK WITH DETAILS, ACCURACY, ABILITY TO BE TRAINED TO USE A CRT FOR ONLINE ENTRY, AND ABILITY TO PROVIDE LIAISON WITH CITY OFFICERS AND TO CONDUCT DEMONSTRATIONS OF THE SYSTEM. POSITION TASKS INCLUDE PROCESSING OF DAILY LISTINGS FROM THE CRIME REPORTS, ARRESTS, TRAFFIC TICKETS, AND PARKING TICKETS WHERE ADDRESSES LISTED ON THE SOURCE DOCUMENTS DO NOT MATCH THE ONLINE CENSUS FILE, ONLINE ENTRY OF ITEMS NOT ON THE CENSUS FILE, REVIEW OF EACH CENSUS TRACT IN THE FILE AGAINST CENSUS MAPS TO ENSURE INCLUSION OF ALL EXISTING STREETS AND INTERSECTIONS, AND REVIEW AND UPDATE OF THE ENTIRE CENSUS FILE. IN ADDITION, KANSAS CITY HAS FOUND THAT, FOR THE SYSTEM TO FUNCTION PROPERLY, CONTINUOUS TRAINING OF SYSTEM USERS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED, WITH UPDATES ON SYSTEM CAPABILITY FOR USERS AND FEEDBACK FROM USERS ON SYSTEM DEFICIENCIES. (MHP)