VOICE, a Justice Information Suite for Colorado
From 2000 to 2002, ASG worked with the County Sheriffs of Colorado (CSOC) to develop a Justice Information Suite for statewide victim notification and offender information. The Victim-Offender Information Computer Enhancement (VOICE) project combined ASG platforms for automated victim notification with jail and prison records sharing. VOICE used highly secure web technology, robust database applications, and a variety of communication methods to provide immediate justice services.
The Justice Solution
Colorado, a state known for its progressive initiatives in information technology and interagency justice networks, chose ASG to build a statewide solution after ASG demonstrated its innovative systems for justice information. The groups discussed the benefits of a comprehensive suite that featured immediate information and data sharing capability while offering security and privacy. CSOC quickly recognized the value of ASG's skills to develop a useful, fast, and effective suite for justice information in Colorado.
ASG worked closely with CSOC to define specifications for Colorado. ASG modeled the VOICE project on the architecture of its successful systems for victim notification and criminal records integration in South Carolina. The suite incorporated platforms for the Internet Victim Information System (IVIS) with the Integrated Criminal Records Information System (I-CRIS) to develop a robust solution for Colorado victim and offender information.
A VOICE for IVIS
One large part of the VOICE project was developing the victim notification system to provide information and notification to victims of crime and to assist justice advocates with victims’ cases. For this part of the project, ASG replicated the IVIS platform, a version of which had been operating successfully in South Carolina for several years. The comprehensive architecture included a massive database structure, secure website interface, and automated phone banks.
The IVIS platform was built so that a justice agent could register an action on a case, triggering the system to automatically make phone calls, send email, and print letters to notify the victim of crime. Justice advocates working on behalf of victims of crime, as well as victims themselves registered with the system, used web and telephone channels to enter victim data. Advocates and victims could use these channels at any time to check the status of a case. The IVIS platform also provided many other features to help advocates manage victim cases.
ASG added and modified features to customize the VOICE notification system for Colorado. This process involved adding fields and features to incorporate state laws, locations, and other vital information to make the system workable for the state. CSOC was constantly involved and provided guidance to ASG throughout development.
CRISCO, an I-CRIS Implementation
While the VOICE system itself was geared for victim information services, the project relied on several different systems working together. One of these was the Criminal Records Information System of Colorado (CRISCO), modeled on ASG’s I-CRIS solution and its successful implementation, the South Carolina Integrated Criminal Records Information System (SCI-CRIS). The crux of this design involved multiple interlinked databases integrating justice data from many different agencies.
Through CRISCO, information on offenders involved in crimes entered VOICE. Since CRISCO was a separate system that communicated with the VOICE system, the architecture of the system suite protected private victim information by distinguishing it from the offender data.
The CRISCO database grew through the contributions of state, county, and local justice agencies. By collecting information such as selected data from jail and prison inmate records, CRISCO provided VOICE with increasing amounts of information needed for victim notification.
As modeled on the I-CRIS platform, justice agencies could access the CRISCO system through a secure website. The CRISCO website aided criminal investigation by allowing justice agencies to search selected information contributed by other agencies. Such information access has proven invaluable to law enforcement agencies as they conduct investigations.
Information Network for Colorado Jails and Prisons
The first phase of CRISCO development was creation of a Jail and Prison Information Network (JPIN) to transmit jail and prison inmate data to CRISCO. The network was modeled after the pioneering principles of the Jail and Prison Information Network that ASG developed and supported for South Carolina. Jails and prisons participating in JPIN submitted selected inmate data maintained by either a commercial records management system or a software package developed by ASG. For the VOICE project, this local software was called the Criminal Justice Information Management System (CJIMS).
Training for VOICE Independence
The VOICE project plan included that CSOC would assume all maintenance and hosting after ASG completed development. Thus, a major part of ASG's service was its training and support of a CSOC technical team to maintain and host VOICE for Colorado. ASG assisted CSOC in building a server network and provided detailed training through instructive manuals and educational seminars. These aspects of the project allowed Colorado to maintain control of its justice information and provide complete assistance to victims of crime within state borders.
