Jail Information Collection and Dissemination Model 2006 COPS Conference Project Mission Funded by a grant provided by the COPS Office, the National Sheriffs’ Association has been charged with developing a national model to collect jail-based information and disseminate it to appropriate law enforcement agencies in order to solve and/or prevent crimes and improve public safety. Image of prison yard Project Goals 1.Collect information in the jail regarding: A. Internal jail safety and security issues B. Criminal activity within the jail C. Criminal activity outside of the jail 2. Route the information to the appropriate internal office or external agency for action Image of prison guard office Objectives 1. Develop an innovative, jail-based information gathering and sharing model • Encourage a paradigm shift from traditional corrections officer to proactive peace keeper to prevent crimes, save lives, and improve community quality of life Image of prison watch tower Module I Jail Information Model • Level I - Data Sources • Level II - Information Gatherers • Level III - Coding • Level IV - Dissemination Image of officer teaching class Level I - Data Sources • Inmates • Inmates’ visitors - friends, family(excludes information covered byattorney/client privilege) • Inmates’ conversations • Inmates’ mail or other materials Image of inmate in hospital Image of inmate visitor entrance Key Areas Arresting Officer Intake Processing Image of intake process Key Areas Recreation Yard Image of indoor recreation yard Inmate Cell Image of prison cell Housing Unit Image of prison housing unit Gathering Jail Information Housing Officers (Have the most contact and access to inmates) •Mail •Telephone •Visitors •Cellmates Image of prison guard at cell Level II - Data Gatherers • Corrections Officers • Staff • Custodians • Health Care Workers • Contractors Image of prison guard in cafeteria Image of guards escorting prisoner Image of Jail Information Module Referral Form Level III - Coding •Internal – Jail operations – Jail crimes •External – Within agency – send to appropriate investigative division (i.e. Homicide) – Outside of agency – send to appropriate jurisdiction or agency (i.e. local police department within the county) Image of guard at computer External Agencies • County Prosecutor’s Office • District Attorney • Other Sheriffs’ Offices • Local Police Departments • State and Federal Agencies • Special Task Forces JIM Information Sharing Image of Jail Information Sharing poster Level IV - Dissemination • Normal – To be used for most information, especially when offenses have already been committed • Red Level – For instances where information must be acted on immediately to prevent future offenses from occurring (e.g., bank robbery planned for today) Normal Distribution • Normal distribution is the typicalclassification for the majority of the information that will be received. • Normal distribution routes the information to the appropriate agency within a useful time period. The normal coding will beused for most information collected, especially when offenses have alreadybeen committed. Red Level Distribution • Red Level (or Priority) distribution is to be used when the information collected must be acted on immediately to prevent future offenses fromoccurring, for example, a bank robbery planned for later in the day. • Red Level distribution can also be used for anyoffense that could be prevented, damage minimized, or harm reduced if the information is provided to the appropriate agency immediately. A planned terrorist attack should be designated for Red Level or Priority distribution. JIM Coding and Dissemination Image of Jail Information Module poster From the Inside to the Outside How Corrections Officers can help outside of the walls… Image of prison JIM Information provided to… • Patrol officers • Investigators • Military • State and federal agencies JIM Feedback Jail Information Program Feedback Form This portion of the form is to be completed by the administrative section or investigative agency that has received thejail information referral. Once completed, return to the originating jail information referral officer or staff. For Administrative Staff or Investigative Agency Use: • Information received from (jail name): _______________________________________________________ • Information received by (officer and investigative unit): _________________________________________ • Information utilized by (list investigative or administrative unit): __________________________________ • Intelligence developed from information: _____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ • Feedback form returned by: ________________________________________________________________ • Date feedback form returned: ______________________________________________________________ • This portion of the form is to be completed by jail staff overseeing the jail information referral program. For Jail Use: • Feedback information provided to originating jail staff or officers by: ________________ JIM Work Kit • Jail Information Monograph/ COPS Innovations • Forms and Templates • Training – Command Staff, Corrections, Local Law Enforcement •Posters •CD-ROM JIM Pilot Site Process • Project Briefing • Jail Familiarization • Implementation Issues • Evaluation Requirements JIM Pilot Sites • Tulsa County Criminal Justice Center, Tulsa County, Oklahoma Image of state of Oklahoma • Pierce County Detention and Corrections Center,Pierce County, Washington Image of state of Washington • Bergen County Justice Center, Bergen County, New Jersey Image of state of New Jersey Key Findings 1. Import process and institutionalization into local procedures 2. Overwhelming the system 3. Empowerment of Corrections Officers 4. Feedback is essential Important Benefits 1. Saved lives 2. Prevented future crimes and reduced victimizations 3. Solved current crimes 4. Provided closure for families 5. Jail safety and security improved Results: The First Six Months Internal - Jail Safety and Security • Stopped attack against corrections officer • Stopped attack against inmate • Confiscated contraband (weapons, drugs) • Generated Internal Affairs investigation • Arrested program vendor for smuggling • Identified jail security issues • Identified jail safety issues • Properly identified inmate wanted for otherfelonies using false name Results: The First Six Months External – Public Safety • Investigated threats against judge • Solved multiple homicides (local area and out of state) • Solved gang homicides • Arrested serial robbery suspect • Arrested serial rapist suspect • Solved auto theft ring • Solved ID theft ring • Solved sexual assault • Arrested child molester • Identified a homicide ring • Solved a high profile shooting • Arrested escapee and other for harboring a fugitive • Seizure of multiple methamphetamine labs and weapons The Jail Information Model is a user- friendly process that can be implemented into the current culture of the jail and can be easily replicated by law enforcement organizations throughout the country. There is no need for additional staff, training is limited, and the entire process can be customized to meet the specific needs that each community. For More Information… Contact: Fred Wilson Director of Training National Sheriffs’ Association 800-424-7827 www.sheriffs.org