This article describes the many benefits of information sharing among public safety agencies, with a particular focus on an information technology program called InfoTech.
The development of InfoTech was sponsored by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) as it recognized the need for multiple users and systems within public safety agencies to seamlessly share information. InfoTech is currently being used around the country to track and provide vital information about inmates, such as medical and behavioral histories. Absent the information-sharing program, corrections agencies would have to relearn information about prisoners as they change facilities or reenter corrections facilities following rearrest. The many uses of InfoTech are described and include sharing information about visitation records in order to aid criminal investigations. Other advantages to InfoTech include the ability to tailor the interfaces to the specific needs of the organization and the ability to ensure secure and confidential transmission of information. Through an efficient system of information sharing among criminal justice agencies, the public’s safety will ultimately be improved.
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