U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

CROSS FUNCTIONAL SYSTEMIC TREND MAPPING IN CORRECTIONS: Correctional Operational Trend Analysis System (COTAS)

Award Information

Award #
2006-IJ-CX-K007
Funding Category
Continuation
Location
Congressional District
Status
Closed
Funding First Awarded
2006
Total funding (to date)
$1,022,070

Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2006, $500,000)

The proposed project will develop software that will enhance existing 'crime mapping' tools to ensure long-term public, staff and inmate safety and security in correctional environment. COTAS merges information and technology into a web-based system using an innovative graphical user interface, crime mapping/GIS technology, and statistical trend analysis for correctional administrators.

The FDC will analyze data to determine which variables are indicators of institutional health, including violent misconduct and disorder. Using hierarchical linear modeling and a split-half cross-validation sample, the research team will analyze five years worth of data to find significant and substantive indicators of prison violence and disruption. Ultimately this will enable administrators to diagnose the health of an institution at a glance and use this information to prevent disruption and improve safety of the officer and inmate as well as security of the institution.

ca/ncf

Date Created: September 13, 2006