The software and the needs of the individual police department require the most attention. Guidelines to follow when selecting a system include to make sure the system is fully integrated and can be used by everyone in the department, to pick a user friendly system, to avoid purchasing software that requires significant customization, and to purchase a system that was designed with input from police officers and administrators. One should also ask about upgrades to keep the system current, make sure the system has security and confidentiality features, choose a system that is suited to the size of the police department, creates its own data base, and includes a payback analysis.