NCJ Number
185514
Date Published
January 2000
Length
41 pages
Annotation
This chapter considers the growth of information technology (IT),
its adoption by various actors in the criminal justice system,
and the implications for the goals of and expectations for the
criminal justice system.
Abstract
The chapter has two sections. The first section uses a timeline
to describe the growth of IT within various sectors of the
criminal justice system. The operational technology has permeated
police, court, and corrections agencies to promote service
delivery. Conversely, the criminal perspective examines issues
surrounding computer crime and its impacts on policies and
programs. This section of the chapter also examines the changes
that pertain to civil rights. An exhibit provides a synopsis of
many of the milestones that mark the technological changes of the
last half of the 20th century. The second section of this chapter
discusses major hurdles and challenges that are confronting the
field of criminal justice. Although computer-based innovations
began as tools to advance transaction-based processes, by the end
of the century criminal justice professionals pursued more
ambitious goals for IT, hoping that IT would enhance organization
knowledge. Managers expected cases, problems, and events to be
identified, tracked, and evaluated more easily, thereby improving
productivity and performance; however, several hurdles were
encountered at every stage of the IT adoption process. In
addition to the technological challenges, organizational hurdles
impeded procurement, implementation, operations, and maintenance,
regardless of organization size. The chapter concludes with a
discussion of the IT challenges confronting the new millennium,
namely, the enhancement of collaboration and knowledge;
sustaining IT change; deterring, investigating, and prosecuting
computer crime in a global market; and mediating the
privacy-access debate. 8 exhibits and 130 references
Date Published: January 1, 2000