Data+Sharing

State and local law enforcement agencies don't general control the content of external source (except for their input into NCIC, etc.) each of these databases raised questions concerning fair use and privacy: Is the information accurate? Does the subject of the record have the right to review the information? Does the subject of the record have the right to demand correction of information? Who has access to the information? How can it be used? The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is probably the largest source of external information that is used by state and local agencies. Although NCIC is external, the data is made up of the information input by all of the state and local and federal agencies in the country. NCIC, which has served law enforcement very well for over 30 years, in being replace by NCIC 2000, an updated hardware and software system that includes digital photographs and fingerprints. Currently, a few agencies are experiencing with implementing complete access to NCIC 2000 for field officers. You will look at the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) and the National Crime Victimization Survey for two purposes. First, much of law enforcement data collection and management decision making revolves around information contained within these two databases. Secondly, UCR is an introduction into the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS). NIBRS will eventually replace UCR. But, more importantly, NIBRS should introduce you to the concept of collecting specific data about crime for crime and management analysis. This chapter also covers a variety of government and commercial databases in order to familiarize the you with the information available to state and local police officers.
 * External Systems**