Interstate Commission Deploys Nationwide Offender Management Tracking System

The Interstate Commission for Adult Offender SupervisionICAOS) is deploying an online central database to track offenders as they move across state lines. ICAOS is the commission that administers the Interstate Compact for Adult Offender Supervision nationwide. The national probation and parolee database will speed information sharing among states and standardize business rules to improve national offender management. The program will be rolled out in three phases. The first phase, the deployment of standard online forms to facilitate the interstate transfer, monitoring, reporting and overall supervision of adult probation and parole offenders, is now available to law enforcement officials in all 50 states. The commission is using Softscape's CaseOne as the system's backbone.

ICAOS estimates there are 250,000 offenders that are currently tracked using a paper-based system. This process is not standardized across the country. As a result, data entry gets duplicated and a time-consuming review process is required. In addition, there is no single database representing the total probation and parole population which hinders the accurate collection of offender data, slows down access to information and leads to inadequate audit documentation.

"The need for a paperless and efficient Interstate Offender Management Tracking System is of paramount importance to all states," said G. David Guntharp, chairman of ICAOS. "The inability to quickly and accurately track offender movement is a liability issue to both public safety and citizens across the country. Softscape's solution will allow us to standardize our processes and take advantage of the power of today's web-based technology to streamline delivery and improve information access for all of our constituents."

Once fully implemented, Softscape's solution will enable ICAOS to reach key goals:

• Improved accuracy of data transfer between states.
• Provide online case management functionality to access the system for states that do not already have a system in place.
• Secure online access for all possible constituents including law enforcement, victims and victims rights groups and other interested parties.
• Speed time required for communication between states.
• Create a national database to improve statistical reference and links to other national criminal justice databases.
• Standardize transfer forms and procedures across states further streamlining accuracy and efficiency.