Monday, January 17, 2000
Volume 3, Issue 38

NYPD gets first cold hit from new DNA testing

The New York City Police Department announced its first cold hit from the recent testing of evidence from 12,000 unsolved rape cases against the state database of DNA profiles. A Rikers Island inmate being held for murdering his girlfriend was identified, through a DNA sample taken to strengthen the case against him, as the prime suspect in a 1998 rape case.  See CCJT News, January 10, 2000 for a related news article.

Source: "In First Case From DNA Bank, Police Link Inmate to Rape" by C. J. Chivers; The New York Times, January 13, 2000

Nez Perce County (ID) Sheriff gets COPS MORE technology grant

The Nez Perce County (Idaho) Sheriff's Office recently received a $269,000 COPS MORE grant that will be used to equip all 14 department vehicles with laptop computers. The funds will also be used to purchase Live Scan fingerprinting and digital mug shot equipment. The laptop computers will allow officers to do their own record checks of state and federal databases.

Source: "It's getting tougher to be a bad guy; Nez Perce County sheriff uses grant to purchase high-tech crime-fighting tools" by Tara King; Lewiston (ID) Morning Tribune, January 13, 2000

Manchester (NH) Police get automated fingerprint system

The Manchester (New Hampshire) Police Department will soon be equipped with Automated Fingerprint Identification System equipment that will allow it to link with the Tri-State AFIS already being used by New Hampshire State Police. The Tri-State system will eventually include the fingerprint records for New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.

Source: "Glennon, others promoted by MPD;" The (Manchester NH) Union Leader, January 6, 2000, Pg. C2

Santa Clara County (CA) Sheriff uses AFIS to solve '70s murders

Santa Clara County (California) Sheriff's detectives recently used newly entered fingerprint records to arrest a man for three unsolved homicides committed in the 1970s. The man's fingerprint records entered the state database because he is on probation for domestic violence and drug charges. Investigators matched his prints against those collected at a 1975 murder and a 1977 double murder.

Source: "Fingerprint Data Leads To Arrest in 1975 Slaying;" The San Francisco (CA) Chronicle, January 14, 2000, Pg. A21

Arlington (TX) Police seek computer forensics training

The Arlington (Texas) Police Department has applied for an $80,000 federal grant to fund training for detectives in its Economic Crimes unit, which was set up in 1997. The detectives, who focus on computer crimes such as child pornography and electronic fraud, require advanced computer forensics training to improve the skills needed to find evidence to solve such crimes.

Source:  "Police train to combat computer crimes; Arlington officials are taking steps to fight electronic fraud, online stalking and other offenses" by Christy Gonzales; The Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram, January 10, 2000

South Dakota may post sex offender registry on the Internet

The South Dakota Legislature is working on a bill, SB21, which would allow the Division of Criminal Investigation to put its statewide registry of sex offenders on the Internet. State law currently limits the posting of the registry to police stations and sheriffs' offices, making the information much less accessible by the public.

Source:  "Sex offender registry may be put on the Internet" by Andrea Skalland, Associated Press Writer;  The Associated Press State & Local Wire, January 14, 2000

Massachusetts court automation project

Massachusetts court officials are planning a new statewide computer system, using $75 million raised through a bond initiative three years ago, that will link all seven divisions --  Probate, District, Land Court, Superior, Juvenile, Appeals, and the Supreme Judicial Court.  After studying failed efforts in other states, officials have spent the past three years setting up the telecommunications infrastructure needed for the computer system. The first step will include linking courts within divisions before establishing one integrated system across the state.

Source:  "Mass. Courts Still Without Computers; State Pledges Update of Antiquated System By End of the Year" by Ralph Ranalli;  The Boston (MA) Globe, January 10, 2000, Pg. B1

Philadelphia (PA) Juvenile Court information system

The Family Division of Philadelphia's Court of Common Pleas (First Judicial District of Pennsylvania) will soon have a new Juvenile Court and Probation Information System. The system will be based on the Philadelphia Automated Recovery and Enforcement Network Tracking System (PARENTS) which is already used by the Domestic Relations Branch of the court, and will offer improved case tracking for judges and probation officers.

Source:  "Juvenile Court Launches Automation Project" by Lori Litchman; The Legal Intelligencer, January 10, 2000