NCJ Number
220636
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 34 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2007 Pages: 48,50,52,54,55
Date Published
October 2007
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the electronic record management systems (RMS) and data-sharing software programs being used by various law enforcement agencies throughout the country and offers suggestions for how to shop for a RMS.
Abstract
The Lincoln Police Department (Nebraska) uses a "homegrown" system that has expanded since its inception in 1978. It includes case files, dispatch records, investigative reports, property and evidence management, personnel records, and intelligence management. The system integrates with a number of other software products, the largest of which is the Nebraska judicial administrative software used by all 93 counties. The agency is continually adding to the system, with such updates occurring quickly. The Rochester Police Department (New York) implemented an automated field reporting system in April 2007. The transition involved equipping approximately 160 vehicles with laptops, installing several wireless "hotspots" throughout the city. Officers now prepare reports in the field, which are automatically sent to a supervisor, who either accepts or rejects the report. If approved, the report is sent electronically to the information systems unit, which validates it for accuracy before it is transmitted to the main database. The Stockton Police Department (California) relies on an imaging software system to manage field reports, document cases, and manage other information. Officers type the data into a report-writing system, and once it is turned into a permanent document, it is entered into the imaging system so that others can view it. The Howell County Sheriff's Office (Missouri) has found the electronic dissemination of information to be a key benefit in its new RMS. Its RMS software allows officers, dispatchers, and secretaries to capture electronically and disseminate information. The goal is to enter all available information on any call, person, or address.