NCJ Number
68400
Date Published
1980
Length
33 pages
Annotation
TRENDS IN DEVELOPING COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS THAT MAY BE ENHANCED BY COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE REVIEWED FOR THE BEST SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT APPROACH.
Abstract
LEEA-FUNDED SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES SHOULD AIM AT WIDELY APPLICABLE MODELS OR PROTOTYPES. PROJECTS SHOULD BE 'BENCHMARK SYSTEMS,' OR DESIGNED FOR ONE LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION AREA BUT APPLICABLE TO MANY POLICE AGENCIES. THIS REPORT OUTLINES A 5-YEAR RESEARCH PLAN FOR IDENTIFYING PROBLEMS AND IMPLEMENTING COMPUTER SYSTEM SOLUTIONS THROUGH ANALYZING INFORMATION NEED AND COMPUTER USE TRENDS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, DEFINING AREAS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT WHERE COMPUTER INFORMATION SYTEMS MIGHT BE USEFUL, AND REVIEWING SYSTEMS ALREADY IN USE. MAJOR TRENDS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: (1) LARGER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES HAVE BEGUN TO DEVELOP OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (RESOURCE ALLOCATION, CRIME ANALYSIS) AND ARE TURNING AWAY FROM SUPPORT SYSTEMS SUCH AS COMPUTER-AIDED DISPATCH; (2) POLICE AGENCIES ARE RECOGNIZING IT IS IMPRACTICAL FOR THEM TO DEVELOP SYSTEMS FOR THEIR OWN USE ONLY; (3) NEW, INEXPENSIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY MAKING COMPUTER SYSTEMS ACCESSIBLE TO NEARLY ALL AGENCIES NECESSITATES DEVELOPING MODEL SYSTEMS SO EFFORTS WILL NOT BE DUPLICATED. TWELVE AREAS TO WHICH COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS ARE APPLICABLE ARE LISTED, INCLUDING INCIDENT REPORTING, RECORDKEEPING, INVESTIGATIONS, ARREST PROCESSING, AND CRIME ANALYSIS. STATE ACTION PLANS CURRENTLY SPEND MOST OF THEIR COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS FUNDS FOR UPGRADING EXISTING SYSTEMS AND DESIGNING INTERAGENCY INFORMATION SYSTEMS. OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FUNCTIONS, INCIDENT REPORTING RECEIVES THE MOST ATTENTION. CATEGORIES OF COMPUTER SYSTEM PROJECT ACTIVITIES LEAA WILL ADDRESS FOR THE NEXT 3 TO 5 YEARS INCLUDE OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS SUPPORT, LAW ENFORCEMENT MANAGEMENT, CRIME INVESTIGATIONS, AND INTERAGENCY SUPPORT. ENSUING TABLES SUMMARIZE PROGRAMS TO BE WORKING ON.