| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| January 30, 2001 | Sandra Whalen (651-296-5529) |
(ST. PAUL) - With unanimous committee approval of the legislative session's foremost crime bill this week, Minnesota continues to lead states in efforts to connect computerized records of police, courts and other law officers, says House Judiciary Finance Chair Rich Stanek.
Stanek, a 17-year veteran Minneapolis police officer, is the chief author of CriMNet legislation, Minnesota's plan to develop and implement a statewide criminal information network connecting 1,100 different law enforcement information networks statewide. A national organization, SEARCH, is overseeing different states' actions to do the same, and they are using Minnesota's local and legislative actions and unique public-private partnership as a model.
"This uniform statewide information network is beginning to modernize the paper-driven process of law enforcement information sharing," Stanek said, "while kids, seniors, vulnerable people as well as police officers-- are provided an extra layer of protection from criminals."
Stanek and Public Safety Commissioner Charlie Weaver illustrated to the House Crime Prevention Committee on Tuesday how current communication could fail. Bad information or careless keystrokes on a police report could send criminal files into "suspense," a condition that temporarily shields prior criminal violations from a court or patrol officer. Requirements in this year's legislation address that problem by requiring that fingerprints accompany records not linked to an arrest record.
Public and private efforts to bring the ambitious plan to life began two years ago with grants for the 37 law enforcement jurisdictions of Hennepin County to serve as a pilot project for other counties. Under Minnesota HEALS, a partnership of Minnesota corporations, community groups, law enforcement and government working together to reduce crime, areas of heavy crime in Minneapolis experienced noticeable change.
The CriMNet pilot project has since expanded to include Dakota, St. Louis, Anoka and Ramsey counties, which provide matching funds to the state grants. The Legislature also assisted the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension with technology upgrades, including fiber-optic phone lines, computer modems and additional equipment.
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A $4.7 million federal grant will also help along CriMNet's progress, Stanek said, by filling in unexpected funding gaps encountered along the way to full implementation.
The CriMNet goal is to have an integration plan developed by 2004 in every jurisdiction, Stanek said, with the majority of those already being implemented. Full statewide implementation will take about six years with adequate funding, and planning is underway to connect states in a national information network.
"Good information is the foundation of any effective criminal justice system," Stanek said. "Anything short of full implementation pulls the rug out from under the officers who could potentially take a criminal off the street before he or she does more harm to our families."
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