Don Stacy
North Carolina Justice Academy
PO Box 99
Salemburg, NC 28385
PH:910-525-4151/Fax:910-525-4491

Law Enforcement has always been notoriously perceived as slow to use technology. But now agencies see the clear-cut need to automate all their operations. The most progressive agencies are using E-mail to facilitate communication and some have created Internet Websites. Still this is not the norm and law enforcement executives wonder how the Internet might be used and if it is worth the cost.

Web pages are starting to become very popular in law enforcement circles. They can have many and varied uses. Most important, they convey to the public that the agency is modern and technically aware.

POSSIBLE USES OF A WEBSITE FOR THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

1) General Information to the Public - Let your public know who you are, what you are about, and what goals you may have in partnering with the community. General information may include a values statement, a mission statement, command personnel information, contact information, community goals, etc.

2) Current Information About Agency Activities - Keep your public informed. Publish press releases, annual reports, minutes of community meetings, etc.

3) Crime Data - Approximately, twice a year the FBI and DCI release crime statistics and there is the usual flurry of media activity. A Website presents an ideal way to present your agency’s current crime statistics, historical data, maps of high crime areas, and perspectives on crime trends.

4) Agency Publications Online - Publish your in-house publications online. Since one can access, view and print publications online in a matter of minutes, it eliminates agency personnel from having to mail out materials. It also simplifies the process for the person ordering the material.

5) Crime Prevention Tips - Publish safety tips for the public such as prevention of robbery, rape, fraud, burglary, con artists, shoplifting, farm security, etc.

6) Emergency Information - During emergencies and disasters a website can provide up to the minute news, quell rumors, and give important advisories to the people.

7) Reduce Paperwork With Online Forms - Encourage citizen participation and interaction with the agency. Establish online parking permission forms, bicycle registrations, vacation notices for home security, citizen complaints.

8) Recruit Information - Post your vacant positions and employment information to help in your recruiting process.

9) Fugitive Alerts - Alert the public to prison escapees and dangerous offenders through descriptions and actual photographs.

WEBSITES SUPPORTING VARIOUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACTIVITIES

1. NORTH CAROLINA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

Police Departments

Albemarle - http://www.albemarlmepd.albemarle.nc.us

Asheville - http://www.state.nc.us/Asheville/police/police.htm

Charlotte-Mecklenburg - http://www.charmeck.nc.us/home.htm

Cherryville - http://www.cherryville.com/cherrypolice.htm

Concord - http://www.charweb.org/government/concord/concord.htm

Durham - http://www.state.nc.us/Durham/policeh.html

Garner - http://RTPnet.org:80/~garner/police/

Gaston County - http://www.gastonpd.co.gaston.nc.us

Greensboro - http://www.ci.greensboro.nc.us

Hendersonville - http://blueridge.cc.nc.us/hpd/

High Point - http://www.high-point.net/dept/police

Huntersville - http://www.he.net/~pg/toh/hpd/

Jacksonville - http://jpd.onslowonline.net

Kannapolis - http://www.charweb.org/government/kannap/kannap.htm

Kernersville - http://www.kernersville.com/police/

Marion - http://www.icu2.net/marion.pd

Monroe - http://www.state.nc.us/Union/monroe/pshome.htm

Norwood - http://www.interlink-cafe.com/norwdncpd

Pine Level - http://www.mindspring.com/~rkvaughn/index.html

Rocky Mount - http://www.ci.rocky-mount.nc.us/police

Salisbury - http://www.ci.salisbury.nc.us/police/web.htm

Southern Pines - http://www.moorelaw.org/sppd/links.html

Spencer - http://www.ci.spencer.nc.us/police.htm

Spring Hope - http://www.policenet.org/nc/SpringHopePD

Washington - http://www.eastnc2.coastalnet.com/~j4m8j8ws

Wilson - http://www4.coastalnet.com/wilson/wpd.htm

Winston-Salem - http://www.ci.winston-salem.nc.us/psc

Sheriff’s Offices

Catawba County - http://www.co.catawba.nc.us/depts/sheriff/shrfmain.htm

Davidson County - http://www.sheriffhege.com/

Forsyth County - http://www.co.Forsyth.nc.us/fcsd/fcsohome.htm

Montgomery County - http://www.ac.net/~tblue/

Union County - http://www.trellis.net/ucso/

Wake County - http://www.webbuild.com/~wcso/

Wayne County - http://www.entrsft.com/sheriff/index.html

Campus Police

Duke University - http://www.hr.duke.edu/dups

North Carolina State University - http://www2.ncsu.edu/ncsu/public_safety

UNC- Chapel Hill - http://www.adp.unc.edu/psafety/

UNC- Greensboro - http:// www.uncg.edu/psp/

2. STATE GOVERNMENT CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES

North Carolina Department of Justice - Provides an overview of the department, frequently called numbers, Attorney General Opinions, consumer complaint information, citizen rights, etc. http://www.jus.state.nc.us/Justice

Division of Criminal Information - Contains statewide data from 1995 and 1996 Crime in North Carolina, Adult and Juveniles Arrests by County 1995-96, concealed handgun statistics, sex offender registrations. http://www.jus.state.nc.us/Justice/crimstat/

State Bureau of Investigation - Provides information on career interests, unsolved crimes, NC Most Wanted, SBI Laboratory, new releases. http://www.jus.state.nc.us/Justice/sbimain/ncsbi.htm

North Carolina Justice Academy - Training Calendar information, course descriptions, online library catalog, legal opinions and updates, job bank, law enforcement legislative report, NC Firearms Law publication. http://www.jus.state.nc.us/Justice/NCJA/

Administrative Office of the Courts - NC Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Decisions 1996-97, Sentencing Commission information, Online Civil Case Cover Sheets. http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/

North Carolina Department of Correction - Trends, population counts, general demographic data about prison, probation and parole, Correction News, Correctional Enterprises, careers in correction. http://www.doc.state.nc.us

North Carolina State Highway Patrol - Employment information, traffic safety programs, enforcement activity statistics. http://www.shp.state.nc.us

Governor’s Crime Commission - NC Criminal Justice Analysis Center, SystemStats Online Newsletter, Crime Commission Reports, grant information. http://www.gcc.state.nc.us

3. NORTH CAROLINA CRIMINAL JUSTICE DIRECTORIES

North Carolina Law Enforcement Directory - County listings of law enforcement agencies within the County with chief executive officer, address, telephone number, fax number, etc. http://www.uncg.edu/psp/ncleadir.html

North Carolina Police Resources - Large list of law enforcement sites related to North Carolina. http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/4473

4. FEDERAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES

Bureau of Justice Statistics - Datasets and codebooks, statistical information, Sourcebook of Criminal Justice Statistics, information products. http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs

Federal Bureau of Investigation - Field offices, most wanted, major investigations, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Uniform Crime Reports, Hate Crimes. http://www.fbi.gov

Drug Enforcement Administration - Programs, DEA Briefing Book, Drugs of Abuse, intelligence reports, drug use statistics, employment opportunities. http://www.usdoj.gov/dea

Central Intelligence Agency - World Factbook, Factbook on Intelligence, CIA maps and publications,employment opportunities, intelligence links. http://www.odci.gov

Federal Bureau of Prisons - Weekly population report, inmate information, facilities directory, National Institute of Corrections Information Center. http://www.bop.gov

National Criminal Justice Reference Service - Database containing full text documents on criminal justice topics and can be searched by keyword. Information on NCJRS products and services also available. http://www.ncjrs.org

5. NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SOURCES

Police Officer’s Internet Directory - Comprehensive list of police sites, worldwide police agencies, associations, training opportunities, listservs for law enforcement, officer’s personal homepages. http://www.officer.com

Cecil Greek’s Criminal Justice Links - Comprehensive guide to criminal justice information links. 18 pages of indexed links updated weekly. http://www.fsu.edu/~crimdo/cj.html

Ira Wilsker’s Law Enforcement Links - Thousands of law enforcement links updated daily. Most accessed law enforcement page on the Internet. http://www.ih2000.net/ira/ira.htm

Microsoft’s Justice Industry Homepage - Highlights latest news in technology developments in the public safety arena. http://www.microsoft.com/industry/justice

Rand Corporation - Non profit organization focusing on public research in criminal justice. http://www.rand.org

Vera Institute of Justice - Resource on community-based alternatives to prison. Descriptions of demonstration projects and research. http://broadway.vera.org

6. LEGISLATIVE SITES

Thomas - U.S. Congressional Site - Search bills pending before Congress, Congressional Record, House and Senate committee reports, historical documents. http://thomas.loc.gov

North Carolina General Assembly - Search bills pending before the North Carolina legislature, county representation, legislative committees. http://www.ncga.state.nc.us

7. LEGAL SITES

Supreme Court of North Carolina - Slip opinions by date and case name 1996-1997. http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/courts/appeals/sc/contents.html

North Carolina Court of Appeals - Slip opinions by date and case name 1996-1997. http://www.aoc.state.nc.us/www/courts/appeals/coa/contents.html

The Law Engine - Most accessed legal research page on the Net. Specific law topics, dictionaries, education, state laws. http://www.fastsearch.com/law

FindLaw - Legal subject index, law schools, legal associations, law firms, cases and codes, consultants and experts. http://www.findlaw.com

U.S. House of Representatives Internet Law Library - Federal laws, state and territorial laws, international law, treaties. http://law.house.gov

Court TV - Current information on high profile, civil rights, Supreme Court, and death penalty cases. http://www.courttv.com

8. CRIMINAL JUSTICE STATISTICS

Center for Disease Control and Prevention - Statistics on firearm-related injuries and deaths, death investigation, and health related data. http://www.cdc.gov

Computer Security Institute - Statistics on computer crime, financial losses due to computer fraud and abuse, usage data on current technology and products by security professionals. http://www.gocsi.com

Corrections Connection - Largest online resource for Corrections. http://www.corrections.com

Inter-Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) - Datasets from archived data submitted by Federal, State, local, and private research organizations and researchers on topics such as census, health, history, sociology, and education. http://www.icpsr.umich.edu

Morgan Quinto Press - Crime ranking of America’s cities for violent and property crimes. http://www.morganquinto.com

National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) - Browsing and downloading access to over 500 data collections relating to criminal justice. http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/NACJD/home.html

National Center for State Courts -Findings from the Court Statistics Project, including caseload highlights from State courts on caseload trends, tort filings, DWI caseloads, and arrests. http://www.ncsc.dni.us

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Traffic Safety Facts, Seat belt use, speeding and alcohol usage stats. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov

SEARCH - National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics. Clearinghouse for criminal justice information systems, including an automated index and online forum for discussion of criminal justice software and application needs and benefits. http://www.search.org

U.S. Bureau of the Census - Statistical abstracts of the United States that contain frequently requested tables on expenditures, employment, salary, births, deaths, population, State rankings, and State and county profile statistics. http://www.census.gov

9. ONLINE SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION DATABASES

Florida Department of Law Enforcement -Database includes individuals who have been designated as sexual predators under current Florida Public Records Law. Can search by specific name or view entire database. http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/index.asp

Indiana Sex Offender Registry - Maintained by Indiana Criminal Justice Institute under Zachary’s Law. Can search by name, city or county. http://www.state.in.us/cji/index.html

Kansas Bureau of Investigation Registered Sex Offenders - Can search by name, city, county, zip code. http://www.ink.org/public/kbi

Alaska Department of Public Safety - Can view entire list or by name, city, zip code. http://www.state.ak.us