NCJ Number
250371
Date Published
October 2016
Length
67 pages
Annotation
This report summarizes information obtained by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) from six companies to a Request for Information on the analytics features of their commercially available offender-tracking software, as well as such capabilities of a seventh vendor's product obtained from its Web site and from correctional departments that had used the firm's services.
Abstract
The intent of this effort is to provide a near-term resource that will assist correctional agencies that are considering establishing or upgrading an analytics capability to support their location-based monitoring mission. The report is structured topically as it summarizes and compares the analytics capabilities of the products in seven areas. These areas are demographic information for the company and point-of-contact; product purpose and installation; performance characteristics and validation approach; analyses performed by the product; data formatting and information exchange; requirements for host-agency computing systems; and operator/analyst education and training requirements. An initial perspective on end-user needs is outlined, based on information provided by a small sample of State and county correctional departments. As analysis technology progresses and becomes more user friendly, the correctional agencies queried in this study indicated that analytics would become a consideration in any replacement systems contemplated in the future. With the growing need to obtain actionable information from the increasing volume of offender tracking system data, it will become essential to leverage advanced analytics to enable probation and parole officers to manage their caseloads more effectively. 8 tables, 34 references, and appended published request for information