NCJ Number
203181
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 30 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2003 Pages: 78,80,83
Date Published
October 2003
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the Crossroads Handheld Citation and Report Writing Program, which is an electronic citation tool that runs on personal digital assistants (PDA’s).
Abstract
Eliminating redundant data and paperwork makes sense for police officers who are consistently asked to do more with less. One solution has been created by Crossroads Software, Inc., a California-based company that used Visual CE, a relational database, to create Crossroads Handheld Citation and Report Writing Program. The program can run on any PDA running PocketPC and WindowsCE and allows officers to create electronic citations that eliminate the need for records checks and paper citations. The Handheld Citation software also boasts a violator signature capture and a variety of multi-function forms, such as juvenile offense forms or DUI arrest forms. Hardware may be added to increase its functionality, including barcode/magnetic stripe reader, a 4 inch printer, and a digital camera. Optional features even allow officers to scan fingerprints. The article describes how officers can upload data from their PDA to their cruiser computers and how the Handheld Citation software can also function as a data analysis tool, providing valuable data concerning crime patterns. Finally, the article describes the use of the Crossroads Handheld Citation and Report Writing Program in a pilot project at the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department. The program functioned well, saving the department money and time by streamlining the citation process.