NCJ Number
45140
Date Published
1977
Length
23 pages
Annotation
REASONS BEHIND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE REGIONAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SERVICE (REJIS) IN ST. LOUIS, MO., ARE REVIEWED, AND THE REJIS APPROACH TO SOLVING PROBLEMS IN DEALING WITH THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE PRIMARY GOAL OF REJIS IS TO BREAK DOWN INFORMATIONAL BARRIERS THAT HINDER THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN THE GREATER ST. LOUIS, MO., AREA. REJIS REPRESENTS A TRANSFORMATION OF THE ST. LOUIS POLICE DEPARTMENT COMPUTER INTO A SEPARATE, MULTIUSER ORGANIZATION SERVING LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTION, TRIAL COURT, JUVENILE COURT, CUSTODY, AND PROBATION AND PAROLE SECTORS OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN FOUR SUBURBAN COUNTIES AND THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. PROBLEMS WITH REGARD TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN REJIS AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY ENCOUNTERED WHEN THE REGIONAL COMPUTER NETWORK WAS SPUN OFF FROM THE ST. LOUIS POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE REVIEWED, AND APPROACHES TO SOLVING THE PROBLEMS ARE DESCRIBED. REJIS FOUND THE FOLLOWING FOUR FACTORS TO BE CRITICAL IN ENCOURAGING POLICE TO SUPPORT THE COMPUTER AGENCY AND IN OPTIMIZING SERVICE TO THE POLICE: (1) INVOLVING POLICE LEADERSHIP IN POLICYMAKING THROUGH AN ORGANIZATION SUCH AS THE REJIS LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY ADVISORY COMMITTEE; (2) INSTILLING A SENSE OF PRESTIGE AND UNDERSTANDING IN THE DISPATCHERS AND OTHER PERSONNEL WHO USE THE REJIS TERMINALS AND WHO INDIRECTLY EDUCATE POLICE OFFICERS IN THE USE OF REJIS; (3) CONVINCING POLICE COMMANDERS OF THE COMPUTER'S POTENTIAL FOR PRODUCING MANAGEMENT REPORTS AND TRANSFERRING RECORDS FROM ONE TYPE OF AGENCY TO ANOTHER; AND (4) MAKING CERTAIN THAT THE COMPUTER CENTER'S PLANS FOR LONG TERM SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT ARE BUILT UPON THE NEEDS PERCEIVED BY POLICE COMMANDERS.