NCJ Number
44536
Date Published
1976
Length
82 pages
Annotation
AN INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PROJECT CONDUCTED BY LEAA'S REGION V OFFICE AT THE MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
THE GOALS OF THE MINNEAPOLIS PROJECT WERE TO PROVIDE ALL FIELD PERSONNEL WITH TIMELY AND ACCURATE INFORMATION; TO PROVIDE ALL INFORMATION WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF PRIVACY, SECURITY, AND RECORDKEEPING STANDARDS ESTABLISHED AT DEPARTMENTAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL LEVELS; AND TO PROVIDE OPERATIONAL COMMAND AND MANAGEMENT STAFF WITH ADEQUATE DATA TO IMPROVE RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS AIMED AT REDUCING CRIME AND DELINQUENCY AND INCREASING ARREST AND CLEARANCE RATES. SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TO BE ACHIEVED IN REACHING THESE GOALS WERE IDENTIFIED, AND FOUR APPLICATIONS MODULES (POLICE PROPERTY ROOM APPLICATION, MASTER NAME/LOCATION FILE, DANGEROUS ADDRESS HISTORY FILE, AND CALLS-FOR-SERVICE MANAGEMENT APPLICATION) THAT WOULD MEET THE INFORMATION NEEDS IMPLIED BY THE OBJECTIVES WERE SELECTED. A TELEPHONE SURVEY AND ONSITE VISITS WERE CONDUCTED TO SELECT INFORMATION SYSTEMS FROM OTHER MUNICIPAL POLICE AGENCIES THAT COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO MEET THE MINNEAPOLIS DEPARTMENT'S NEEDS. THE TRANSFERS WERE THEN IMPLEMENTED, DOCUMENTED, AND ASSESSED, AND CONCLUSIONS WERE DRAWN WITH REGARD TO IMPLICATIONS FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER IN THE ACQUISITION OF INFORMATION-PROCESSING SYSTEMS. THE MAJOR CONCLUSIONS ARE AS FOLLOWS: DEVELOPMENT OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM REQUIRES EARLY COMMITMENT AND PARTICIPATION BY THE USER; ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION NEEDS AND FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE USER IS AN ESSENTIAL PREREQUISITE TO SELECTING A SYSTEM FOR TRANSFER; A KEY ELEMENT OF THE SELECTION PROCESS IS A CAREFUL COMPARISON BETWEEN THE USER'S INFORMATION NEEDS AND FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS AND THE DONOR SYSTEM'S OUTPUTS AND FUNCTIONAL CAPABILITIES; AND THE HUMAN AS WELL AS THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER MUST BE CONSIDERED. SUPPORTING DATA AND DOCUMENTATION ARE PROVIDED.