NCJ Number
57576
Date Published
1978
Length
42 pages
Annotation
THIS PROGRESS REPORT ON ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL WORK GROUP ON JUSTICE INFORMATION AND STATISTICS COVERS THE PERIOD FROM APRIL 1978 TO DECEMBER 1978 AND EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR IMPROVED JUSTICE INFORMATION IN CANADA.
Abstract
THE PROGRESS REPORT, PRESENTED IN THE FORM OF AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY, ADDRESSES THE PURPOSE OF THE WORK GROUP: (1) TO IDENTIFY COMMON INFORMATION AND STATISTICAL PROBLEMS; (2) TO DEVELOP MECHANISMS FOR THE RESOLUTION OF THESE PROBLEMS; (3) TO ENCOURAGE THE COMPATIBILITY OF JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS; AND (4) TO COMMUNICATE THE STATUS OF SYSTEMS BEING DEVELOPED. TASK FORCES ESTABLISHED BY THE WORK GROUP HAVE ADDRESSED SUCH AREAS AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A DATA ELEMENT DICTIONARY, DATA IDENTIFIERS, JUDICIAL STATISTICS AND DATA GENERATION, AND THE PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY OF JUVENILE RECORDS. BECAUSE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TASK FORCE MECHANISM DID NOT FUNCTION SATISFACTORILY, FURTHER PROJECTS AND STUDIES WILL REQUIRE AN APPROPRIATE ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT. PROGRESS OF THE WORK GROUP IS SUMMARIZED WITH REGARD TO JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS (POLICE, COURTS, AND CORRECTIONS) AND JUVENILE CORRECTIONS. A PROPOSED WORK PLAN TO IMPROVE JUSTICE INFORMATION AND STATISTICS INCORPORATES PROVISIONS FOR MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY, NATIONAL DATA ELEMENTS, ASSISTANCE IN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, ASSISTANCE TO SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS, AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF NATIONAL JUSTICE INFORMATION. THE PLAN CONTAINS CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS PERTINENT TO FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL DATA REQUIREMENTS, THE FEASIBILITY OF STANDARD FINANCIAL REPORTING, ADULT COURT AND CORRECTIONAL SYSTEMS, THE FEASIBILITY OF AUTOMATING ROUTINE CLERICAL PROCEDURES, THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL ADULT COURT INFORMATION SYSTEMS, METHODS FOR THE UTILIZATION OF LOCAL PRISON DATA, POLICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS SUPPORT, PROBATION, INFORMATION AVAILABILITY, JUVENILE COURTS, AND CIVIL JUSTICE. (DEP)