Inmate Management System

The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.

Mahoning County will use the funds to implement an inmate management system, based on the findings from an assessment of the county's justice system conducted by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) in 2006. The NIC found missing information and data coded incorrectly and concluded that "Mahoning County has an underdeveloped analytic capability to empirically document the impact of problems on its justice system." The acquisition of justice management system technology will provide the software and hardware necessary to compile and analyze the problems, such as length of stay, release orders, and charge characterics occuring in the county's justice system. The technology will also support single point data entry and up-to-the-minute inmate information to eliminate duplication and improve accuracy. The new system will connect the Mahoning County courts and those of the City of Youngstown with the Mahoning County Justice Center (MCJS) to allow jail data to be seamlessly derived through software licensing and integrated through a RAM server. The system will have 125 pre-defined reports, but will allow flexibility to create and define new reports. Progress will be measured by meeting the established timeline for procurement of the essential system software and hardware, completion of the installation, and distribution of user licenses for independent analysis and planning.

NCA/NCF