Near Real-Time "Who's In Jail" Database Running in Kentucky

Kentucky Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence introduced a new program yesterday, JusticeXchange, which just recently became available to the state's criminal justice community.

JusticeXchange is a web portal that provides law enforcement and other criminal justice officials' instant access to information about offenders held in jails throughout the state and across the country. Based on data collected automatically from local jail management systems, JusticeXchange provides near real-time current and historical information about incarcerated offenders, including biographical information, charges, photographs, and behavioral reports, all accessible through a secure website.

Previously, law enforcement and other justice agencies had no way of tracking incarcerated offenders other than to physically call each prison facility across the state, or, if available, check each facilities website. JusticeXchange provides instant access to that information.

Although the program has only recently become operational, the JusticeXchange system has already marked successes in Kentucky. Recently, the Louisville Metro Police Department had four felony warrants out for the arrest of an individual wanted on gun and drug charges. By using the JusticeXchange system, Metro Police were able to determine that the subject was already being held in Oldham County on lesser charges and was close to release. Metro Police were then able to track down the subject and serve felony warrants on the individual before the subject was released.

JusticeXchange currently tracks 100% of state and local jail beds in Kentucky. The system also accounts for 43% of all county jail beds throughout the country. Currently, data from 27 states is in JusticeXchange. Kentucky is one of at least seven states that have launched a statewide JusticeXchange system. Other states include Arkansas, New York, Washington, Utah, Texas, and Florida.

JusticeXchange was implemented through a partnership with Louisville-based Appriss, Inc., provider of the VINE service. The funding for the program was provided through the Louisville Metro's Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant and the Louisville Metro Criminal Justice Commission, the Unified Criminal Justice Information System (UCJIS), and the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP).

"It is critical that we provide our commonwealth's public safety community with the resources they need to keep our communities and families safe," said Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence. "The JusticeXchange program is a powerful investigative tool for any criminal justice official and we are pleased to have this program up and running here in Kentucky."