NCJ Number
48083
Date Published
1978
Length
56 pages
Annotation
THIS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT INDICATED THE VALUE OF MICROCOMPUTERS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY AND SHOWED WAYS THEY COULD SATISFY THE NEEDS OF SMALL- TO MEDIUM-SIZE JAILS FOR INFORMATION PROCESSING.
Abstract
THE JAMS SYSTEM WAS TESTED IN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND JAIL FACILITIES OF SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. IT CONSISTS OF A 32,000-WORD SEMICONDUCTOR MEMORY, A DUAL 'FLOPPY' DISKETTE DRIVE CAPABLE OF 625,000 BYTES OF ON-LINE STORAGE, TWO CRT (CATHODE RAY TUBE) TERMINALS, ONE HARD-COPY PRINTER, AND THE CAPABILITY TO ALLOW SEVERAL TERMINALS TO BE OPERATED AT ONCE. THE SYSTEM REQUIRES NO SPECIAL FACILITIES AND NO COMPUTER-ORIENTED STAFF. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DATA BASE AND THE TRAINING OF CLERICAL STAFF TO USE JAMS IS DESCRIBED IN DETAIL. BOTH SWORN POLICE OFFICERS AND CLERICAL PERSONNEL BECAME REASONABLY PROFICIENT AFTER A 45-MINUTE TRAINING PERIOD AND QUITE PROFICIENT AFTER A MATTER OF DAYS. ONCE IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE TERMINALS WERE NOT GOING TO REPLACE PERSONNEL BUT WERE GOING TO MAKE RECORDKEEPING EASIER AND MORE ACCURATE, THE STAFF BECAME ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE SYSTEM. THE REPORT GIVES A COMPLETE SYSTEMS DESCRIPTION, HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS, DATA REQUIREMENTS, FORMS DESIGNED FOR DATA COLLECTION, INPUT RESPONSIBILITIES, AND DATA REQUIREMENTS. MOST OF THE DATA IS DYNAMIC, CONSISTING OF BASIC INMATE DESCRIPTIVE DATA, INFORMATION RELATED TO OFFENSES, ADJUDICATION, RELEASE DATA, AND CELL LOCATION. PROVISION IS MADE FOR SPECIAL INFORMATION ON MEDICAL HISTORIES OR OTHER PROBLEMS. IT ALSO GENERATES MANAGEMENT REPORTS. THE SYSTEM IS CALLED PRACTICAL FOR JAILS WITH AN AVERAGE INMATE POPULATION OF ABOUT 500. THE SAN JOAQUIN FACILITY HAS ABOUT 350 IN THE MEN'S JAIL, 50 IN THE WOMEN'S JAIL, AND 100 ON THE HONOR FARM. IN ADDITION, INMATES ARE MAINTAINED IN BOTH THE LOCAL COUNTY HOSPITALS AND STATE HOSPITALS. (GLR)