Through the support of the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, last year the NGA Center awarded grants to help six states implement pilot projects to improve their existing justice information sharing systems. Based on the success of the 2005 Policy Academy, the NGA Center has expanded the program, awarding grants to Connecticut, Iowa, Minnesota, New York and North Carolina.
Modeled on the 2005 Policy Academy, this year's grants will enable states to utilize the Global XML Data Model (Global XML) for exchanging criminal justice information. Global XML is designed to provide law enforcement, public safety agencies, prosecutors, public defenders and the judicial branch with a tool to share data and information in a timely manner.
This year's Policy Academy states will participate in a 12-month implementation process, which will include NGA-sponsored site visits, two policy academy meetings and customized technical assistance. This process will provide valuable information for other states and localities looking to improve justice information sharing.
North Carolina Gov. Michael Easley, a 2006 grantee, will use the funds to implement facial imaging technology. This grant will provide the technology that allows law enforcement organizations in the state to transfer or receive digitized images of drivers licenses, missing or wanted persons and escapees. Facial imaging technology provides law enforcement officers with the abilityto quickly and accurately verify an individual's identity. Easley said of the award, "This new tool will allow us to continue our aggressive efforts to make our state a more secure place in which to live, work and travel. Facial recognition technology is also a powerful weapon in the fight against identify fraud-the nation's fastest growing crime."
Among the highlights of 2006 Policy Academy state initiatives is Iowa's plan to exchange data between the offices of the county attorneys participating in the Iowa County Attorney Case Management Pilot Project and other agencies in the criminal justice community. This enhanced capability to exchange information will result in increased public safety by reducing the amount of time needed for County Attorneys, the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Judicial Branch to access information pertaining to Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) charges.
In Minnesota the CriMNet program and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Department of Public Safety plans to further the development of their Comprehensive Incident Based Reporting System. By developing a standard incident based reporting system across the state, information collected will be more consistent, reducing the potential for error and duplication.
The 2005 Policy Academy states (Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin) already are providing work products that can be disseminated to other states and sharing lessons learned. All states will come together for a Policy Academy workshop in Denver, Colo. from April 18-20, 2006.demy workshop in Denver, Colo. from April 18-20, 2006.
