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2 Sheriff Office Report Putting fi~e right criminal justice information in the hands of the right people at the right time and in the right place. What is CriMNet? CriMNet is connecting statewide criminal and juvenile justice systems to make information available that will strengthen public safety in Minnesota. · The CriMNet approach is a comprehensive enterprise architecture for all state and local criminal justices agencies designed to work with everyone -- for everyone -- holistically. · Once complete, CriMNet will 9ire Minnesota's prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officers, probation and corrections officials current, accurate and complete criminal history information on suspects and criminals throughout the state. · CriMNet is not a software or hardware program, nor is it a centralized database. It is a secure intranet system that will link Minnesota's ~, ~ 00 criminal justice jurisdictions by using common business practices and a standard computer language. Why is CriMNet important? Far too often, criminals and suspects fall through the cracks of Minnesota's criminal justice system and remain free to re-offend. This means many senseless murders and crimes could have been prevented if only prosecutors, police officers or judges had accurate information. Right now they are relying on 1970's technology. CdMNet's Implications for N~tiona[ Security In the wake of the September 1 1 tragedy, the concept of CriMNet can serve as a cornerstone for the nation's homeland security. By connecting each state's criminal and juvenile justice systems through a common computer language, complete, accurate and timely information can be shared anywhere in the country. States would improve their public's safety and federal authorities would have much improved access to critical information to better safeguard our nation. When Completed, CriMNet will Provide Real-Time Statewide Automation of: · Statewide case processing · Pre-trial release data · Domestic and restraint conditions · Post-conviction restrictive probation conditions · Weapons prohibition information · Juvenile arrests and conviction data · Arrest warrant information · Electronic fingerprinting and photo images · Conviction status on all offense levels · Detention/incarceration data · Alcoholldriving restrictions · Total case record, from incident report to outcome, and sanction compliance and completion Current Status Implementation of CriMNet is well underway. Several individual components of CriMNet have been developed and are currently operational. Several pilot projects ha ve been completed, with many more beginning in the near future. Tom Kooy Deputy Director Tel. (651) 642-0809 E-Mail: Tom. Kooy@state.mn.us David Billeter Executive Director Te1.(651) 632-5182 E-Maih David. Billeter(-C_,state mn.us Mahogany Eller Director of Communications Te1.(651) 642-0810 E-Maih Mahogany. Eller@state.mn,us Cr t Putting the right criminal .justice information in the hands of the right people at the right time and in the right place. Myths vs. Facts MYTH Minnesota already has everything from mug shots to fingerprints stored in a FACT computer system. Currently, we do not. Under today's system, a county sheriff who wants to know if a MYTH FACT person he has detained has any previous arrests or warrants pending from other counties or jurisdictions in the state would have to call each jurisdiction separately to find the information. With 1,100 jurisdictions, this important research rarely occurs. However, much like an Internet search engine, CriMNet will soon allow that sheriff to type in the suspect's name and get his or her entire criminal history. CriMNet will increase the already heavy burden on local law enforcement. Local law enforcement officials will benefit from better technology and are often the most ardent supporters of CriMNet. The current system is inefficient and increasingly ineffective, making their job harder and more frustrating. By using CriMNet, local law enforcement will have more success fighting crime. MYTH Those applying for jobs that would place them in close proximity to vulnerable FACT populations (children, the elderly, etc.) are weeded out by a thorough background check. Because many criminal histories are incomplete and not integrated into a system available to all appropriate personnel, a woman with convictions for abusing senior citizens in Brainerd may be able to get a job in a St. Paul nursing home because her St. Paul record is clean. The reality is that, despite the efforts of employers to keep dangerous people away from their vulnerable populations, some criminals slip through the cracks. CriMNet will seal up those cracks, and allow law enforcement agents to see a person's complete history, regardless of where a conviction occurred. In addition to being more thorough, background checks using CriMNet will take less time, allowing hiring decisions to be made more quickly and confidently. - over- David Billeter Executive Director Tel. (651) 632-5182 E-mail. David. Billeter(h)state.mn.us Tom Kooy Deputy Director Tel. (651) 642-0809 E-Mail. ~Tom.Koov~.state.mn.us Mahogany Eller Director of Communications Tel. (651) 642-0810 E-Mail. M~ahoeanv. Eller(~state. mn.us MYTH Personal information will be available to too many people. --ACT Only information on suspected or convicted criminals will be available through CriMNet. The only people who would be allowed to see it would be law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges and probation and corrections officials. CriMNet will just allow for better tracking and data collection of information such as fingerprints, photographs, warrant, probation and conviction status, and weapons and alcohol/driving restrictions. MYTH We can't afford CriMNet. FACT We can't afford not to build CriMNet. Minnesota currently spends nearly $2 billion per year on criminal justice for a system that simply is not complete, accurate or current. More than 100,000 convictions are not on the books because they are "lost" and we "lose" nearly 23,000 more every year because some piece of information is inaccurate or incomplete. The investment in CriMNet is estimated at $260 million over six years and will make our criminal justice system more effective and efficient. What will Minnesotans receive for this investment? o More efficiency for local law enforcement, prosecutors and courts. Using today's outdated technology, tracking down criminal histories can be time consuming. CriMNet makes criminal histories readily accessible. Also, with more data available on suspects, judges will have the information they need to issue arrest warrants and police officers may be more effective in recovering stolen property. o A safer Minnesota, with criminals held and punished appropriately. The price of allowing just one criminal to remain free and re-offend is too high. MYTH Law enforcement personnel have access to a person's complete criminal history when making an arrest, preparing a case or during sentencing. FACT False! Our crime fighters are constrained by the lack of complete information as they seek to protect the people of Minnesota. Many convictions do not make it on to a person's criminal record, leaving prosecutors to try cases and judges to make sentences with insufficient, inaccurate or incomplete information. Their efforts would be aided, and Minnesotans would be better protected, if they had the best information possible. When operational, CriMNet will allow all appropriate personnel to see the information they need to best protect Minnesotans. MYTH CriMNet is simply a technology issue - if everyone gets the same computer systems or software the problem will be solved. FACT CriMNet is an "enterprise model" that entails more than just the consistent use of data and technology. While it will be important for each jurisdiction to use technology and data that allow them to interact with one another, it also means the use of consistent business practices by each jurisdiction throughout the state criminal justice system, none of which is in place today. For example, each sheriff's office and police department will have to collect and record the same information from people who have been arrested. The same would be true for the judicial and corrections systems. Therefore all of the criminal's information must be I uniformly entered and maintained. I The following is an actual example. In 2001, Kerry Dean Stevenson, a convicted criminal with a history of violations against children, was preparing to be tried and sentenced in a metro county for criminal sexual misconduct. In reviewing his case, law enforcement, the prosecutor and the judge had access to only part of his criminal record. His criminal record indicated: o 10 different names used as aliases o 7 different birth dates Year Convictions County 1984 DWI Hennepin 1986 Indecent Conduct ~Hennepin 1988 Indecent Exposure ~ Hennepin 1989 Indecent Exposure Hennepin 1991 Aggravated Violence - Drivers License Hennepin Suspended 1997 Criminal Sex Conduct, 4~n degree Hennepin But this was only part of the story. Stevenson had actually been convicted of many other crimes that could significantly impact the prosecution's case and the sentence handed down from the judge. Information that was missing: Year Convictions County 1983 Indecent Conduct Hennepin 1985 Indecent Conduct Anoka 1986 Indecent Conduct Ramsey 1986 DWI Hennepin 1987 Indecent conduct Anoka 1987 Indecent conduct Anoka 1989 Gross Misdemeanor DWI Pine 1992 Indecent Conduct Anoka 1993 Indecent Conduct Ramsey 1993 Indecent Conduct Ramsey 1993 Indecent Exposure Hennepin 1993 Escape from Custody Hennepin 1994 Theft by Check Ramsey 1997 Criminal Sex Conduct, 5~h degree Rams. ey 1998 Criminal Sex Conduct, 5'n degree Hennepin 2000 Criminal Sex Conduct, 5tn degree Anoka This happens nearly every day. The state's 1,100 law enforcement agencies Cannot share information to ensure they have complete records of a suspect or to connect a suspect with unsolved crimes in other parts of the state. Fortunately, the prosecutor in the case was able to obtain this additional criminal information in time for Stevenson's trial and sentencing.