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USE OF AN EDP (ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING) SYSTEM BY THE ITALIAN POLICE TO COLLECT AND PROCESS CRIME DATA

NCJ Number
45998
Journal
International Criminal Police Review Volume: 32 Issue: 311 Dated: (OCTOBER 1977) Pages: 230-241
Author(s)
COSTA
Date Published
1977
Length
11 pages
Annotation
AN INDEPTH DESCRIPTION OF COMPUTERIZED DATA PROCESSING SYSTEMS IN USE BY THE ITALIAN POLICE SINCE 1963 IS PRESENTED, INCLUDING HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, DATA INDICES, AND APPLICATIONS.
Abstract
THE ELECTRONIC CENTER OF THE PUBBLICA SICUREZZA IS A NATIONAL DATA BANK WHICH IS PERMANENTLY SUPPLIED BY EXTERNAL SERVICES, AND WHICH CAN IN TURN SUPPLY INFORMATION 24 HOURS A DAY ON A MIXED TELEGRAPHIC AND TELEPHONE SYSTEM. THE CENTER HAS TWO THIRD GENERATION MEDIUM-HIGH POWER PROCESSING SYSTEMS WHICH ARE COMPLETELY INTERCHANGEABLE FOR BOTH CENTRAL MEMORY AND PERIPHERAL UNITS. THE SOFTWARE CONSISTS OF APPROXIMATELY 2000 PROGRAMS COVERING 30 INVESTIGATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES. TRAFFIC CONCENTRATORS IN NINE PROVINCIAL CAPITALS EFFECT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TERMINALS AND THE SWITCHING CENTER. THE SWITCHING CENTER ALSO CONTROLS AUTOMATIC SORTING OF TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGES BETWEEN THE SENDER AND ONE OR SEVERAL ADDRESSEES. AN INDEX OF WANTED OR SUSPECT VEHICLES CONTAINS DATA ON 524,952 VEHICLES AND PROVIDES A MEANS FOR IMPLEMENTING ADMINISTRATIVE OR JUDICIAL SANCTIONS, RECORDING VEHICLE OR LICENSE PLATE THEFT, IDENTIFYING OWNERS, AND DELIVERING MESSAGES TO OCCUPANTS, THE NATIONAL INDICES OF WANTED OR SUSPECT PERSONS PROVIDE DATA ON CONVICTED CRIMINALS, SUSPECTS OR HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS, INTERNATIONAL CRIMINALS AND WANTED PERSONS, AND ALIASES OF WANTED/SUSPECT PERSONS. THE INDEX OF CONVICTED PERSONS CONTAINS FULL DEMOGRAPHIC AND IDENTIFYING DATA FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL AS WELL AS DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE MOST RECENTLY FILED REPORT. A MAGNETIC TAPE HISTORY FILE CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON EARLIER REPORTS. SEPARATE INDICES ARE ALSO MAINTAINED ON INTERNATIONAL CRIMINALS, REPORTED PERSONS, DANGEROUS PERSONS IN POSSESSION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE, AND ALIASES AND NICKNAMES. A COMPUTERIZED BULLETIN OF WANTED PERSONS IS ALSO PUBLISHED AND CIRCULATED DAILY. A FIREARMS INDEX, A BANKNOTES INDEX, AN INDEX OF CANCELLED OR SUSPENDED DRIVER'S LICENSES, AND AN INDEX OF LOST OR STOLEN IDENTITY PAPERS ARE ALSO MAINTAINED. ADDITIONAL RECORDS OF OFFENSES AND OFFENDERS, ORGANIZED CRIME, AND DRUG TRAFFICKERS/PEDDLERS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM. IN ADDITION TO PROCESSING POLICE DATA, MANPOWER, ACCOUNTING, AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE DATA ARE ALSO HANDLED. (JAP)