CJITI WEEKLY NEWS: Covering
Law Enforcement, Corrections & Courts across the United States
| Vol. 3 #6 April 26, 1999 |
#1 Fairfield (ME) police get grant for laptop computers
#2 Colorado to add more criminals to DNA database
#3 Hanford (CA) police complete computerization plan
#4 Wonder Lake (IL) village police get grant for laptops
#5 U.S. Marshals Service use of GIS software
#6 Hillsborough County (FL) Sheriff's Office success with AFIS
#7 Louisiana to create database of protective orders
#8 Washington
to get new computer systems to track convicts
LAW ENFORCEMENT TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Fairfield (ME) Police recently purchased two laptop computers for use in squad cars using a $12,000 domestic violence prevention grant, and will download all of their files onto the laptops so records will be available 24-7. The computers will allow officers to search for restraining orders and other information while in their squad cars, even when the dispatcher if off duty. Fairfield is also part of a regional effort to create a shared criminal justice information system.
[Source: "Fairfield police receive laptop computers" by Mike Laberge;
Bangor (ME) Daily News (Mid-Maine edition) April 17, 1999]
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Item #2 COLORADO TO ADD MORE CRIMINALS TO DNA DATABASE
There are currently only about 5,000 sexual offenders profiled in the
Colorado Bureau of
Investigation DNA database, but the Colorado House has approved HB1235
that would require samples be taken from those convicted of other violent
felonies as well. The larger the database, the more success law enforcement
expects to have matching samples taken at crime scenes.
[Source: "Bill to Boost DNA Database Galvanizes Backers, Critics Taking
Genetic Samples from Criminals Excites Police, But Civil Libertarians Fear
Abuses" by Kevin Vaughan; Denver (CO) Rocky Mountain News, April 20, 1999,
Pg. 5A]
Item #3 HANFORD (CA) POLICE COMPLETE COMPUTERIZATION PLAN
The Hanford (CA) Police Department has completed the last phase of its 1997 computerization plan by adding new mobile data terminals in its 12 patrol cars that allow officers to perform their own license plate and records checks. The department earlier upgraded its records management capability.
[Source: "Hanford Patrol Cars Go Online; Mobile Computers are Linked to Department's Network" by Katherine Andes; Fresno (CA) Bee, April 16, 1999, Pg. 2]
Item #4 WONDER LAKE (IL) VILLAGE POLICE GET GRANT FOR LAPTOPS
Police in Wonder Lake, Illinois will soon receive an $18,273 grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Authority to equip two squad cars with laptop computers for running background checks and creating electronic reports in the field. The village currently shares a dispatch system with 12 other municipalities, and having its own computers will speed up record checks by officers.
[Source: "Grant Helps Fund Police Equipment" by Michele K. Mellor; Chicago Tribune (McHenry County edition) April 19, 1999, Pg. 3]
Item #5 U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE USE OF GIS SOFTWARE
The U.S. Marshals Service is now using geographic information system (GIS) software to help determine the best locations for housing its 32,000 prisoners in 1,500 jails across the country. The Marshals Service spent $30,000 for MapInfo Corp. software, which it plans to offer over an intranet to all 5,000 of its users within the next two years. The software allows detailed maps to be prepared on such factors as jail costs per diem and cell availability.
Item #6 HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (FL) SUCCESS WITH AFIS
The Hillsborough County (FL) Sheriff's Office was able to use its new $55,000 Automated Fingerprint Identification System to identify a career criminal on charges of armed sexual battery and armed burglary. The man's prints were on file in Broward County, and without the statewide AFIS search the fingerprint match would not have been successful.
[Source: "New Fingerprinting System Targets Suspects in Assaults" by Amy Herdy; St. Petersburg Times (South Pinellas edition) April 20, 1999, Pg. 5B]
COURT TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Item # 7 LOUISIANA TO CREATE DATABASE OF PROTECTIVE ORDERS
Louisiana has created a statewide network to provide information about protective orders so law enforcement agencies across the state will be able to access them, thereby keeping potential victims safer. A standardized form will be used, and court clerks across the state will send copies to the Louisiana Supreme Court Judicial Administrator's Office for entry into a database.
[Source: "Protective order network can help;" Baton Rouge Advocate (Acadiana
edition) April 17, 1999, Pg. B6]
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CORRECTIONS TECHNOLOGY NEWS
Item #8 WASHINGTON TO GET
NEW COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR TRACKING CONVICTS
Washington state lawmakers have approved about $9 million to improve the tracking of convicts when they are released from prison, including $7.5 million for a computer system to replace one purchased in 1983. Washington Department of Corrections officials hope the new computer system and an increase in the number of Community Corrections officers will enable recidivism trends among the ever-increasing number of work release and paroled inmates to be better monitored.
[Source: "Bill to Track Ex-Cons Headed to Locke's Desk; Governor's Proposal
Increases Treatment, Monitoring" by Craig Welch; (Spokane, WA) Spokesman-Review,
April 17, 1999, Pg. A1]
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CJITI Weekly News is compiled by Jeffrey Michaels jeffreym@mitretek.org