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Missouri Databases Help Solve Crimes

A peanut in the stomach of a murder victim and a candy wrapper in an automobile lead to an arrest.

The word "peanut" gave it away. Following a homicide, a routine vehicle inspection yielded a candy wrapper. The information was noted in a report and forgotten. Later, during an autopsy, traces of peanut candy were found in the victim's stomach and noted -- along with other data on the body -- in a separate report.

The reports became part of the mound of data collected by investigators trying to solve the case, and may have remained buried if the Missouri State Highway Patrol hadn't been involved. The Highway Patrol, which assists local law enforcement and other agencies investigating violent crimes, loads case data collected by investigators into its Lotus Notes Violent Crime Case Management System. The searchable system helps generate leads by connecting pieces of disparate information embedded in reports.

Using the database, analysts did keyword searches and connected the candy wrapper in the vehicle with contents of the victim's stomach. The car's owner later became a suspect, then was charged with the murder.

Investigators, who were from various agencies and were following various leads, might never have connected the two pieces of data otherwise. "I doubt something that minute would have been picked up by anyone," said Lt. Richard Coffey of the Highway Patrol's Drug and Crime Division.

With a manual system, investigators read and
reread reports to create leads and connections. As the investigation continues and leads are followed up,
more paper is added to the file. And as the file grows,
it becomes more difficult for investigators to connect information.

But because the Highway Patrol's system allows keyword searches, connections between pieces of information can be made more easily. Other crimes can also be included in the searches to see if a common thread -- such as a certain car or modus operandi -- is present. The system helps investigators solve crimes and take criminals off the street by ensuring that every lead is followed up and that large amounts of information can be easily linked -- which generates even more leads.

HIGHWAY PATROL ASSISTANCE
The database, which was developed last year, is a Lotus Notes application
from Lotus Development Corp., running on an OS/2 server. Nominated for a Computerworld/Smithsonian award in the government/nonprofit category, the database is used for violent crime investigations, mainly homicides.

Local law enforcement or district attorneys sometimes request investigation assistance from the Highway Patrol's Violent Crimes Support Unit, which was formed two years ago to help agencies reduce the state's unsolved violent crimes. When the unit arrives on the scene, teams set up a command post to provide a focal point for investigators, who may include local and federal authorities.

Because investigators come from different agencies and often use different forms for reports, Highway Patrol analysts arriving on the scene distribute paper for investigators to use. Reports from the investigation are then written on paper with data in the same place on each document.

This helps analysts, who use laptop computers to enter the data from the reports into the database and run keyword searches. As the investigative database is built with data from interviews and observations in the field, leads are generated and checked out by investigators, who file more reports which are loaded into the system. The database also helps lead investigators manage leads and make sure every stone necessary is turned over to solve a crime.

Another part of the application is a case management section for recording basic case data. This includes case numbers, agencies involved and lead investigator contacts.

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
Analysts are trained to make the charts and timelines -- used by investigators -- from the data. They also learn some analytical skills to help them attempt to connect information. "They look for analytical linkages," Coffey said. "Often, a seasoned investigator can have very good input."

Application development began in 1994, when the concept was outlined and a working group of investigators and technical staff was formed. The Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control already used Lotus Notes for another application, and the software appeared to be a good base for a customized application. Private consultants were also part of the team.

There was some tension at first, as each side sought to understand what was needed. "It took awhile to get to know each other's expertise," said Coffey. The technical staff had to learn what investigators needed from an application, and how the information should be handled by the computer system.

Once the system development was completed, it was tested with an unsolved case to identify bugs or other problems. Investigators were invited to try out the system to give it a final test before deployment last year, and it was almost immediately successful in helping to solve a case. The Case Management System was used to store leads and case information, which helped the Highway Patrol identify and apprehend a suspect within the first three days of an investigation.

In the future, the Highway Patrol has plans to expand the searchable function in the system, including adding more laptop computers for investigators. The database may be expanded to include more commonalities between crimes, such as modus operandi, weapons or vehicles.

PROSECUTORS
The system also helps assistant district attorneys who prosecute cases. The Highway Patrol used to hand over binders -- full of paper documenting evidence used to arrest a suspect -- sometimes as much as 900 pages long.

Prosecutors had to go through these unwieldy files to piece together information and prepare a case for trial. It could take weeks for attorneys to cross-reference and review the files in preparation for prosecution.

Now, investigators give prosecutors an indexed case file which can be arranged the way the individual prosecutor wants it. The documents are all printed in the same format, which eases reading and speeds searching for particular data because it appears in the same place on the paper.

Lotus Notes will also index and number the pages, making trial preparation easier for attorneys. This organization can help ensure that the prosecutor doesn't miss details and connections that the defense may find and use to its advantage.

"A prosecutor may want a different view of the information, such as a list of all items seized at the location," Coffey said. "It's presented as a series of notebooks, all catalogued, and the case is laid out for them," Coffey said. "It makes [the prosecutor's] job so much easier."


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