Phase One takes into account the overriding issues of equipment installation, technical, and end-user training, while also acknowledging the need to keep stakeholders informed of the project and the expected positive results of that process.
As the integration process proceeds, a continuing effort must be made to define those values, direction, design, and standards that will serve long term technology needs. Stakeholders must be included in this process by keeping them informed and working toward consensus building. This initiative involves efforts to assess current applications and operations, define the integration architecture, and consider enabling integration standards.
Phase Two will build upon the progress achieved from the prior initiative as lines of communication are established between agencies/departments. Servers, installed during Phase I, will facilitate the storage and sharing of information. The flow of this information can be authorized, controlled, and altered as needed. Each agency will be trained and responsible for the maintenance of its equipment and data. Once again, this method favors self-reliance, as each agency/department is responsible and empowered to act on their own without the excessive use of consultants and other outside technical resources.
The application of justice information technologies, allowing the individual agencies to share information, is one that will require more political considerations than technological considerations. The overriding issue is the willingness of the agencies to venture into a justice information sharing partnership with one another. It is important to proceed at a pace they choose in deciding when this step would begin and what information they may be willing to share or exchange.
The goals of this initiative are to install and implement an integrated technology infrastructure sufficient to support an information network connecting justice agencies. These networks will utilize software applications and databases that are designed to provide one-time entry capabilities directed to a centralized database. A network of this design will allow more efficient and timely access to justice information through shared files, data, and system resources and at the same time have the ability to limit or restrict access where appropriate due to policy, laws, agreements or other guidelines. In addition to the connectivity, these new systems would offer e-mail and Internet capability. While allowing for more efficient and cost effective communications, these enhanced networks will improve horizontal and vertical lines of communication.
Dedicated servers will be housed by each agency and each agency will have exclusive control over the information it shares. These servers, with searchable databases, will be accessible by each agency's authorized network personnel. An issue remains with the willingness of agencies to share information and a decision regarding what specific information should and would be shared. It is essential before and during this phase that efforts to gain political and community support continue.
Phase Three is for agencies to begin sharing and exchanging information with local, state, and federal agencies. To accomplish Phase Three technologically, only minimal modifications and enhancements to agency infrastructures is required. However, the initiation of this phase should be through meetings or forums that may choose to participate in the integration effort.
One of the more significant problems of the integration effort is that of sustainability. The solution to this issue will require a long-term sustained effort to hire and train personnel in technology skills ranging from basic computer maintenance and repair to network management.
Training should also be a distinct point of emphasis during Phase One. Appointed agency personnel need to accompany network engineers as the network technologies are implemented. This will provide valuable, free training for computer personnel in each department as they are afforded hands-on experience on network setup and maintenance. This will enable each of the department offices to become more self-reliant, reducing the current expenditures for outside technical consultants.
In support of this project, additional training initiatives need to be undertaken. As the newly installed technology becomes available and efforts are made to automate the manually processed information, it becomes critical to adequately train the end-user in the new applications and procedures that are available. Understanding the necessity of the end-users being familiar with and capable of fully utilizing the integrated networks is crucial. Participants should be selected in part on their ability to take this training back to their workplace and share it with others.
The training should school the student in the basic use of the computer and computer applications, including data entry on computer forms, appropriate storage of data, transmission of information, and retrieval of information. Students should also be instructed on the fundamentals of using the Internet for research and information purposes. Through Internet connectivity, end-users will have the ability to expand their current scope of communications through e-mail service. Training on the use of this valuable communications tool should also be included.