NCJ Number
59505
Date Published
1978
Length
89 pages
Annotation
RESULTS ARE REPORTED FROM A PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF THE CRITICAL ISSUES RAISED BY THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER'S USE OF A COMPUTERIZED CRIMINAL HISTORY FILE.
Abstract
THE NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER IS A NATIONWIDE INFORMATION NETWORK OPERATED BY THE FBI SINCE 1967. IT PROVIDES CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY WITH ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON STOLEN VEHICLES AND OTHER STOLEN PROPERTY, WANTED PERSONS, AND MISSING PERSONS. IN 1971, A COMPUTERIZED CRIMINAL HISTORY (CCH) FILE WAS ADDED. THE IMPACT OF SUCH AN INFORMATION SYSTEM ON SOCIETY HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF SPECULATION. THIS PRELIMINARY EFFORT BY THE OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT AND AN AD HOC WORKING GROUP OF EXPERTS AIMS AT IDENTIFYING CRITICAL ISSUES RAISED BY THE USE OF CCH. THERE IS ONLY LIMITED INFORMATION REGARDING THE WAYS IN WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DECISIONMAKERS, AS WELL AS OTHER GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, USE CCH. THERE IS ONLY LIMITED INFORMATION REGARDING THE WAYS IN WHICH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE DECISIONMAKERS, AS WELL AS OTHER GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, USE CCH. THERE IS EVEN LESS INFORMATION ON THE QUALITY OF THE RECORDS. THESE INFORMATION GAPS MUST BE REMOVED BEFORE AN ADEQUATE ASSESSMENT OF POLICY ALTERNATIVES REGARDING CCH CAN BE MADE. OTHER ISSUES NEEDING RESOLUTION INCLUDE (1) THE DEVELOPMENT OF LEGISLATION REGARDING ALLOCATION OF CONTROL OF THE SYSTEM BETWEEN THE STATES AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT; (2) THE ROLE OF THE FBI AS THE MANAGER OF CCH IN LIGHT OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PRIVACY CONTROLS; (3) THE INVOLVEMENT OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE CURRENT REVIEW OF THE CCH SYSTEM; AND (4) SELECTION OF A TECHNICAL SYSTEM THAT WILL SERVE POLICY INTERESTS. THE APPENDIXES PROVIDE LETTERS OF REQUEST, PERTINENT EXCERPTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE REPORT, A CHRONOLOGY OF CCH, AND A GLOSSARY. FOOTNOTES ARE INCLUDED. (RCB)