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Early Intervention System Secures Data, Boosts Efficiency

NCJ Number
242235
Date Published
August 2011
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Under funding from the U.S. Justice Department's Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) implemented an Early Intervention System (EIS) that stores data securely, eliminates duplicative efforts, reduces paperwork, and streamlines the personnel review process.
Abstract

PsAdvance, a Web-based program accessible to authorized employees through the city's intranet, tracks the police department's personnel evaluations, training notices, missed training alerts, and court unavailability. All employees can view their own records, and all supervisors can view the records of all their subordinates. The system includes seven preformatted data entry functions: Journals, Performance Note (PN) Commendations, PN Counseling, Interventions, Mobile Video Recorder Reviews, and Appraisals. PsAdvance pulls from an existing online data system for personnel records and from another stand-alone system that records court appearances and missed court dates. From other systems, it pulls arrests, offense reports, and field interviews, enabling the information to be viewed in one place. The seven data entry functions preformatted into the system were previously captured only on paper. The VBPD followed the 2003 introduction of psAdvance with the 2009 addition of BlueTeam. This second phase, also a web-enabled application, supports officers by enabling entry of use-of-force reports, pursuits, and administrative investigations in the field. These reports are then routed electronically through a chain-of-command, and supervisors must review and approve entries within specified time frames. BlueTeam allows a law enforcement agency to set parameters of concern. Revisions and improvements continue the process of eliminating paperwork and duplicate work.