Integrated Justice Information Systems

Integrated Justice Information Systems Project

Project Overview
State Statutes
Links
Contacts

News

1999 Enactments
Upcoming AFI/ASI Meeting

Updated 11-8-99

Project Overview

Integrated justice information systems allow state and local criminal justice agencies (law enforcement, courts, corrections, and aftercare) to merge and share information. Development of systems that link these agencies can provide for greater access to accurate and complete information, contributing both to government efficiency and public safety. Integrated criminal history records contain information that is critical to those working in the justice system. This new NCSL project is designed to inform and assist legislators as states develop and improve such integrated justice information systems.

This NCSL Web site will provide general information concerning integrated systems, as well as sample state statutes and links to other sources of information. Also, the Assembly on State Issues (ASI) Communications and Information Policy and Criminal Justice committees will discuss the issue at the upcoming joint fall meeting of the ASI and AFI (Assembly on Federal Issues). And, NCSL will be available as a ready resource for legislators and legislative staff seeking information on integrated justice systems.

State Statutes

States have used several different approaches to integrate justice information. Some states have attempted to legislate all aspects of a system, while other states have statutorily formed governance structures, such as task forces, and left the specifics to be decided by this body. This list of statutes provides a sample of how some states are legislating this issue. The list will be an on-going product that will grow as states enact new laws.

Colorado

16-20.5-101 - 107
16-20.5-102 Defines "Integrated Criminal Justice Information System" as an automated information system capable of tracking the complete life cycle of a criminal case throughout its various stages involving different criminal justice agencies through potentially separate and individual systems and without unnecessary duplication of data collection, data storage, or data entry."

16-20.5-103 Establishes the "Colorado Integrated Criminal Justice Information System Program." This Program is to be a joint effort of various criminal justice agencies, and implemented by the "Criminal Justice Information Program Task Force." The Task Force, along with the chief criminal justice information system officer, shall be "responsible and accountable for the implementation of a uniform policy for an integrated criminal justice information system. The uniform policy shall include a system or systems to enable the criminal justice agencies to share data stored in each other's information system. Initially, the uniform policy shall maximize the use of existing data bases and platforms through the use of a virtual data base created by a network linking existing data bases and platforms among the various departments. The uniform policy shall also develop plans for new open system platforms when the existing platforms become obsolete."

16-20.5-107 Mandates that "any future state-funded expenditures by a criminal justice agency for computer platforms in support of criminal justice applications shall be reviewed by the task force."

See also 16-21-101 - 105

Kansas

Chapter 22, Article 47
22-4705 Establishes a criminal justice information system central repository for the "collection, storage, and dissemination of criminal history record information." Mandates that "every criminal justice agency" report criminal history record information. Provides a list of "reportable events."

22-4709 Allows any person to inspect and challenge criminal history record information about themselves.

Minnesota

299C.65
Subdivision 1 Establishes the Criminal and Juvenile Information Policy Group and requires the Policy Group to make recommendations to the Governor, the Supreme Court, and the Legislature on issues such as: a "framework for integrated criminal justice information systems;" criminal justice agency responsibilities concerning "collection, maintenance, dissemination, and sharing of criminal justice information with one another;" actions necessary to ensure information is current and accurate; processes for expungement, correction, and destruction of records; and "the impact of integrated criminal justice information systems on individual privacy rights.

Subdivision 4 Requires the Policy Group to make a recommendation on a "structured numbering scheme" to "facilitate identification of the offense and the elements of the crime."

Subdivision 5 Requires the Policy Group to "review the funding requests for criminal justice information systems from state, county, and municipal government agencies." The Policy Group is to review the requests for "compatibility to statewide criminal justice information system standards."

Also see 1999 Enactments for Minnesota

Missouri

Chapter 43, Sections 500 - 540
43.500 Defines "criminal history record information" to include information collected by criminal justice agencies on individuals consisting of "identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, informations, or other formal criminal charges, and any disposition arising therefrom, sentencing, correctional supervision, and release."

43.503 Mandates all police officers of within the state, the clerk of each court, the department of corrections, the sheriff of each county and the prosecuting attorney of each county to submit certain "criminal arrest, charge, and disposition information to the central repository for filing without undue delay."

43.518 Establishes within the Department of Public Safety a "Criminal Records Advisory Committee." The purpose of the Committee is to "recommend general policies with respect to the philosophy, concept and operational principles of the Missouri criminal history record information system . . . in regard to the collection, processing storage, dissemination and use of criminal history record information maintained by the central repository."

North Carolina

Chapter 143, Section 69
143-661 Establishes the Criminal Justice Information Network Governing Board to operate the State's Criminal Justice Information Network. The purpose of the Network is to "provide the governmental and technical information systems infrastructure necessary for accomplishing State and local governmental public safety and justice functions in the most effective manner by appropriately and efficiently sharing criminal justice information among law enforcement, judicial, and corrections agencies."

143-663 Authorizes the following Board powers: Establish and operate the Network as as integrated system for "effectively and efficiently storing, communicating, and using criminal justice information;" develop and adopt uniform standards and cost-effective information technology; provide assistance to local governments; and facilitate the sharing of information and knowledge among agencies.

Links

Bureau of Justice Assistance BJA is the grant-funding arm of the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice. This site provides information on funding opportunities and technical assistance for criminal justice programs.

Center for Technology in Government CTG is an applied research center devoted to improving government and public services through policy, management, and technology innovation. A current CTG project is titled "Developing a Business Case for the Integration of Criminal Justice Information."

Colorado Integrated Criminal Justice Information System CICJIS is the integrated justice information system in Colorado.

National Association of State Information Resource Executives NASIRE represents state chief information officers and information resource executives and managers from the 50 states, six U. S. territories, and the District of Columbia. The mission of the association is to be the leading forum for addressing opportunities, implications and challenges of improving the business of government through the application of information technology.

SEARCH - The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics SEARCH is an organization of the states dedicated to improving the criminal justice system through better information management and the effective application of information and identification technology.

1999 Enactments

Arkansas S 823
Establishes the Arkansas Integrated Justice Information Systems Coordinating Council, the duties of which include the oversight of "planning and development of specific goals and timetables for a complete integrated justice information system." The Council must also appoint a Local Government Advisory Group to "consult and advise the council concerning local government integrated justice information system issues and the impact of state integrated justice information system policies and decisions on local units of government."

Connecticut S 1277
Establishes the Criminal Justice Information System Governing Board, which shall oversee an information system that enables criminal justice agencies to share criminal history record information and to access electronically maintained offender and case data.

Florida H 391
Establishes a Criminal Justice Network, within the Department of Law Enforcement, which is an "intra-agency information and data-sharing network for use by the state's criminal justice agencies." Provides offices of the Public Defender with access to criminal history records.

Indiana H 1869
Establishes the Integrated Public Safety Commission for the purpose of "promoting the efficient use of public safety agency resources through improved coordination and cooperation to enhance the safety of Indiana residents." The Commission is to focus on establishing a statewide wireless voice and data communications system. The Commission is also given the power to develop a means for sharing information to improve public safety.

Louisiana H 889
Establishes the Integrated Criminal Justice Information System Policy Board, which is to coordinate the design, development, maintenance, and use of an Integrated Criminal Justice Information System serving the criminal justice agencies in Louisiana.

Minnesota S 2221
Requires the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Information Policy Group to review funding requests to ensure that the agency has adopted a "comprehensive plan;" can describe "how implementation of the integration plan will improve operation of the criminal justice system;" has identified how it will satisfy a "local match requirement;" and has a means for "evaluating the outcomes of the plan's implementation."

Upcoming AFI/ASI Meeting

Assembly on State Issues and the Assembly on Federal Issues - Joint Meeting
December 1 - 3, 1999
Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill
Washington, DC

Wednesday, December 1^st

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm "Seamless Justice: Integrating Criminal Justice Information Systems"
Joint program of the Criminal Justice Committee and the Communications and Information Policy Committee

Advances in information technology provide improved capability to link law enforcement, prosecution, defense, corrections, probation and parole, promoting government efficiency and public safety. This session provides an overview of integrated criminal justice information systems, including state-level agency and policy issues, and federal funding opportunities.

Contacts

For more information on this topic, please contact Julie Spence Gefke @ (303) 364-7700, julie.gefke@ncsl.org.

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