Criminal Data Collection and Information Sharing Training Program for Tribes

The Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Program: National Initiatives, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In FY 2008, the program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within five major categories: 1) preventing crime and drug abuse; 2) enhancing local law enforcement; 3) enhancing local courts; 4) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 5) facilitating justice information sharing.

The University of Arkansas will implement the Criminal Data Collection and Information Sharing Training Program for Tribes under Category 5: Facilitating Justice Information Sharing. They will equip tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide with the ability to collect and report criminal statistical data. The University of Arkansas will train and encourage the tribes to report criminal data; provide toll free or on-line access to a help desk for tribal agencies to use in requesting additional assistance with crime reporting; maintain a web site (www.tjiss.net) and the tribal technology self assessment tools currently available from that web site; and market the project by developing a brochure that will be distributed to tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide. The University of Arkansas will educate and train the agencies on the importance of sharing criminal data, reporting procedures, how to accurately maintain criminal statistics, and how to share information with the federal government.

CA/NCF