Report on Criminal Justice Systems (language only)

Item 430 #1s

Language
Page 306, line 26, insert:
"C.1.  The Secretaries of Public Safety, Technology and Finance, or their designees, shall coordinate the development of a common data dictionary and data elements for all criminal justice computer systems and databases.  Such information should allow for the common reporting and sharing of information with the intent of eliminating duplicate information input and re-creation of  redundant information in individual agency systems and databases.  This information should provide a minimum standard for sharing information between criminal justice computer systems and databases and serve as a basis for future systems development.  The Secretaries should address the concerns in the Department of Criminal Justice Services' report "Recommendations for the Development of a Virginia Integrated Criminal Justice Information System" (1997).  The Secretaries shall complete their work by June 30, 2001, and for any criminal justice system development contracts or requests for proposals, the Secretaries shall ensure any contracts include provisions that allow for the incorporation of these standards into the contracts.
2.  The Secretaries shall assess the condition, capacity, and status of criminal justice computer systems and databases in use by local law enforcement, commonwealth's attorneys and courts; local and regional jails; and the Departments of State Police, Corrections, Juvenile Justice, and Criminal Justice Services.  The Secretaries shall report on the financial effect that minimum standards for sharing information between criminal justice computers systems and databases would have on the cost of current and future system and database development.  As part of this assessment, the Secretaries should recommend alternatives that could allow the affected agencies to exchange information in the most economic and efficient manner.  The Secretaries shall provide their assessment by December 1, 2000, with a final report by November 10, 2001.
3.  The Secretaries shall provide semi-annual progress reports to the State Crime Commission.  The State Crime Commission shall work with the Secretaries to develop recommendations and considerations for the funding of future criminal justice computer systems and databases.  Upon request by the Commission, the Auditor of Public Accounts shall provide financial information and technical assistance and review or audit information as needed.  The Commission shall issue an interim report by December 1, 2000 and a final report by December 1, 2001."

Explanation
(This amendment directs the Secretaries of Public Safety, Technology and Finance to review criminal justice systems and databases and make recommendations for their development in a coordinated manner.)