NCJ Number
59998
Date Published
1975
Length
24 pages
Annotation
CONCEPTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED; THE MODULAR NATURE OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM IS STRESSED, WITH EMPHASIS ON ITS EXPANDABLE PROPERTIES.
Abstract
THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE HAVE INCREASED GREATLY IN RECENT YEARS, ATTRIBUTABLE, IN PART, TO INCREASED POPULATION AND INCREASED FILINGS OF NEW KINDS OF CASES CREATED AS A RESULT OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGES, AND THE CONSEQUENT PASSAGE OF NEW LAWS. COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION IS LACKING. THE BURDEN OF EXCESSIVE CASELOADS IS COMPLICATED BY THE MANY AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE SYSTEM; AGENCIES MUST EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE THEIR INFORMATION IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR OBJECTIVES. THE JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM IS A CONCEPT DEVELOPED BY IBM TO PROVIDE A SYSTEM FOR TREATING EACH STEP IN THE TOTAL JUSTICE PROCESS IN AN ORGANIZED, PLANNED MANNER. THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF EACH AGENCY ARE STUDIED, AND WHERE THERE IS A NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO INPUT INFORMATION, THE FACILITY IS PROVIDED. THROUGH THIS INTEGRATED CONCEPT, EACH AGENCY CAN ALSO RETRIEVE REQUIRED INFORMATION. SINCE MUCH OF THE INFORMATION USED IN THE PROCESS IS COMMON TO MORE THAN ONE AGENCY, IT IS DESIRABLE TO HAVE ONE SOURCE OF INFORMATION. UNDER THE SINGLE DATA BASE CONCEPT, ESSENTIAL INFORMATION IS STORED IN COMPUTER FILES WHERE IT IS AVAILABLE TO AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS FOR UPDATING AND RETRIEVAL. INFORMATION RELATING TO PERSONS, INCIDENTS, AND CASES WOULD BE INCLUDED. THE ULTIMATE JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM ENVISIONED IS TOTAL IN ITS SCOPE, ENCOMPASSING THE CIVIL, CRIMINAL, AND JUVENILE JURISDICTIONS. THE SYSTEM IS INTENTIONALLY PLANNED TO BE MODULAR IN DESIGN, SO THAT IMPLEMENTATION CAN OCCUR GRADUALLY ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS AND DESIRES OF A PARTICULAR ASPECT OF THE SYSTEM. A STATEWIDE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WITH THE SUBSYSTEMS OF BASIC OFFENDER, IDENTIFICATION, AND NOTIFICATION, ILLUSTRATES THE PRINCIPLES OF THE CONCEPT. IT IS BELIEVED THAT WITH MANAGEMENT COMMITMENT AND BACKING, A COMPLETE AND OPERATIONAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM IS A DESIRABLE, ATTAINABLE GOAL. DIAGRAMS ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT. (LWM)