Madera (CA) Police to get new computer system
Police in Madera, California plan to purchase a new computer-aided dispatch system and computers for all 14 patrol cars using $500,000 in state and federal grant funds. The new computer system will allow officers to run their own records checks and write reports while in their vehicles, and will enable dispatchers to pull up records on addresses before sending officers to respond to 911 calls.
Source: "Madera police to install new computer system" by Jim Davis; The Fresno (CA) Bee, December 30, 1999
Forest Park (IL) Police to be equipped with laptops
Forest Park (Illinois) Police will soon become one of the first Chicago-area departments to equip all its officers with laptop computers. Funding for the 35 computers came from the $106,000 generated by the emergency 911 surcharge on local telephone bills. The computers will improve officer productivity by allowing reports to be prepared electronically, reducing time spent on paperwork.
Source: "Computers may help cops curb paperwork" by Carlos Sadovi; Chicago (IL) Sun-Times, December 21, 1999
Racine (WI) GIS system may help police
Racine, Wisconsin officials recently purchased a $500,000 Geographical Information System (GIS) that can be used by police and other departments. The GIS database of local aerial photography and computer maps will offer many capabilities, including instant retrieval of crime scene information that could prove very useful in hostage situations.
Source: "High-tech helping hand; Computer system will aid police, road projects" by Tom Kertscher; Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel, December 26, 1999
Nebraska AFIS system logs 1,000 hits in 1999
The Nebraska State Patrol Automated Fingerprint Identification System logged 1,000 hits in 1999. The system, set up in 1995, is accessed by law enforcement agencies across the country. AFIS allows the state's fingerprint records to be searched in minutes.
Source: "Automated Fingerprint system gets 1,000 hits;" The Associated Press State & Local Wire, December 29, 1999
Minnesota to improve tracking of probationers
Counties and cities throughout Minnesota are testing various methods to improve the tracking and monitoring of probationers owing to incomplete records and unlinked databases among police, courts and probation departments. Hennepin County is using a state grant to build a system that links more than a dozen criminal justice information systems, with other counties planning to link to the project. A statewide probation database is being tested in Anoka County through which probation records are sent electronically to a state computer each night.
Source: "Beefing Up Probation; State trying to fill risky holes in data" by Dan Browning and James Walsh; Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN) December 19, 1999, Pg. 23A
Wisconsin to take DNA samples from released felons
Under a recently signed budget agreement, Wisconsin will begin taking DNA samples from all convicted felons upon their release from state correctional facilities, a less expensive option than testing all current prisoners. Testing the estimated 12,500 released felons each year will cost about $1.24 million over the next 18 months, and be funded by raising the levy on most municipal and county criminal violations from $4 to $5. The state's DNA database currently includes about 10,000 profiles.
Source: "Before they leave prison, felons will have to leave a DNA sample; New system will allow the state to use the information as hightech fingerprints" by Steven Walters; Milwaukee (WI) Journal Sentinel, December 28, 1999
Charlotte County (FL) Circuit Court web page
The Charlotte County (Florida) Clerk of the Circuit Court web page recently won an award for its information and quality at the National Court Technology Conference, and will soon be searchable by the public. The site, which currently requires a password, will offer free summaries of all civil, criminal, and traffic records. Complete access to such case files will be offered on a subscription basis.
Source: "Clerk of court expands Web site; The new site will provide all kinds of information, from booking reports and judges' decisions to criminal records, for free" by Robert Eckhart; Sarasota (FL) Herald-Tribune, December 23, 1999
Baytown (TX) to allow fine payment over the Internet
Baytown, Texas officials have allowed residents to pay traffic fines by telephone for the last few years, and have now contracted with a vendor that will accept fine payments over the Internet. Last year the city received $1.6 million in fines, and officials are trying to make payment options as flexible as current e-commerce allows. The web address for paying fines directly to E-Court Inc. (http://www.ecourtinc.com/) will be printed on tickets to increase awareness of the option.
Source: "New way to pay up; Baytown will allow traffic fines to be paid on Internet" by K. Pica Kahn; The Houston (TX) Chronicle, December 15, 1999
