NCJ Number
56952
Date Published
1979
Length
208 pages
Annotation
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE METHODS AND APPLICATIONS OF INFORMATION SCIENCE IS PRESENTED IN AN ILLUSTRATED TEXT DIRECTED TO THE LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.
Abstract
THE TEXT IS INTENDED TO SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR FOUR CLASSES OF PROFESSIONALS: POLICE OFFICERS ASSIGNED TO DEVELOP, OPERATE, OR MAINTAIN MANUAL OR AUTOMATED OPERATIONAL RECORDKEEPING SYSTEMS; SYSTEMS ANALYSTS WORKING TO HELP POLICE AGENCIES IMPROVE THEIR RECORDS MANAGEMENT APPROACHES; INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATORS AND SPECIAL DIVISIONS WHOSE TASKS REQUIRE MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS SEPARATE FROM THOSE OF THE DEPARTMENT; AND POLICE MANAGERS WITH OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTING AND OPERATING INFORMATION SYSTEMS. AN INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER EXPLAINS BRIEFLY THE BASIS AND ROLES OF INFORMATION SCIENCE. SUBSEQUENT CHAPTERS COVER IN DETAIL REPORTING FORMATS AND SYSTEMS COMPATIBILITY; THE BASICS OF INDEXING AND RETRIEVAL; MANUAL FILING SYSTEMS, RETRIEVAL DEVICES AND TECHNIQUES; MICROFORM DATA STORAGE SYSTEMS; LAW ENFORCEMENT APPLICATIONS OF KWIC (KEY WORD IN CONTEXT) INDEXING; AND NETWORK ANALYSIS (INCLUDING THE CONCEPT OF CITATION INDEXING AND THE APPLICATIONS OF NETWORK ANALYSIS IN ORGANIZED CRIME INVESTIGATIONS). THE FINAL CHAPTER OFFERS GUIDELINES FOR SELECTING SYSTEMS, HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, AND CONTRACTORS, AND INDICATES SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PHOTOGRAPHS OF EQUIPMENT, EXAMPLES OF FORMS, AND OTHER ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIALS ARE INCORPORATED THROUGHOUT THE TEXT. FIVE CLASSIFICATIONS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT-RELATED TERMINOLOGY ARE APPENDED. ALSO PROVIDED ARE A GLOSSARY, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AN INDEX, AND STUDENT EXERCISES. SEE NCJ-56953 FOR AN INSTRUCTOR'S GUIDE. (LKM)