Tribes To Get More Technology Support
Rubben Johnson and Timothy Thornton of the Criminal Justice Institute discuss self assessment tools with members of the White Earth tribe
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For all those who don't know what a server does or how to fix glitches in their computer systems, help is on the way—in a slim 5- by 8-inch plastic case.
The Tribal Justice Information Sharing System (TJISS) is developing a DVD that will help tribes assess their technological needs and how best to fulfill them. TJISS is mailing pamphlets to all tribes to spread the word. The free DVD will be available in a couple of months.
TJISS advises tribes on which equipment to purchase for their needs and provides technical support through its toll-free number, 1–877–47–TJISS. The idea for the DVD stemmed from the high number of calls TJISS was receiving from tribes with computer problems. It is designed to help people who are not computer savvy learn what equipment they really need and how to shield themselves from predatory software and hardware vendors.
Philip D. Propes, a program director for the Center for Information Technology Engineering who is managing the DVD project, said that many tribes have limited technical personnel, and a lack of computer know-how can lead to inappropriate spending. According to Propes, one tribe was sold a $100,000 server that TJISS found elsewhere costing only $10,000. "Unfortunately, that's not a unique type of story," he said.
The DVD, which is being developed in collaboration with the White Earth Tribe in Minnesota, will expand on the information in TJISS's self-assessment questionnaire, a basic tool that helps tribal organizations better determine their computer technology strengths and weaknesses. Propes believes the questionnaire is too technical for many people and that the DVD will be more helpful.
TJISS also will release an online "knowledge base" this summer through which people can ask questions and find solutions to their problems. For example, if a printer is not working, a user can enter relevant information and get a list of PDF files that outline different possibilities for fixing the problem. Some companies, such as Microsoft, have similar help systems, but their systems only work for their own products. The TJISS system will work for any brand.
TJISS, which began in 2004, is part of the Tribal Technology Information Outreach Program of the Center for Information Technology Engineering at the National Center for Rural Law Enforcement (NCRLE). NCRLE is a division of the Criminal Justice Institute, which is part of the University of Arkansas system.
For more information, contact:
Philip Propes
Program Director
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