March 22, 2016
Pennsylvania
Commission on Crime and Delinquency Launches Online Tool to Assist Police
Harrisburg, PA. — The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and
Delinquency (PCCD) has launched a new online tool designed to ease the
paperwork burdens on local police departments and increase the accuracy of
reports on the juveniles they hold. Nearly 300 police departments have already
begun using the system.
“What
this means for police in your community is less time behind a desk filling out
paperwork and more time on the streets keeping you safe. Part of our mission at
PCCD is to look for ways to use technology to improve the justice system. This
new online tool does just that,” said PCCD Chairman Josh Shapiro. “In addition to freeing up police from
burdensome paperwork this system helps PCCD ensure that when children are held
by police in your community that it is done in a safe and appropriate manner.”
Pennsylvania
law requires police departments to report to PCCD on juveniles being held by
them, either securely or non-securely, in order to ensure that the Commonwealth
is in compliance with the federal Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Act (JJDPA). Previously, this has required police departments to fill out by
hand, ledgers documenting juveniles in their custody. For many police
departments this was a laborious task that was also prone to errors. It also
meant that officers were spending countless hours behind their desks instead of
performing their regular duties in the community.
This new
online system is a fast and secure way for police departments to record this
information. In addition, it allows PCCD to have up-to-date information about
how and where juveniles are being held throughout Pennsylvania so that we can
ensure that they are being treated in accordance with the law. If a child is
being restrained for an inappropriate amount of time, PCCD would be immediately
notified and could investigate the cause.
"I
want to commend the PCCD for this new online process. The PCCD now allows
efficient, 21st Century data collection for all Law Enforcement Agencies across
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," said Robert A. Martin, Director of
Public Safety for Susquehanna Township and member of the Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention Committee.
Our Mission is to enhance the quality, coordination and planning
within the criminal and juvenile justice systems, to facilitate the delivery of
services to victims of crime, and to increase the safety of our communities.
MEDIA CONTACT: Matthew Leonard, 717.265.8539