Someone’s always watching around. This is the warning given to offenders especially those that have served the prison and been charged before. How could this be possible? The law enforcement has a database of information where all your records are entered and it stays there and can be accessed whenever it is needed. The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) can be tapped by criminal justice agencies to help them identify a terrorist, find a fugitive, determine a stolen property and locate missing persons. Its major contribution is helping the law enforcement officers perform their duties and responsibilities more effectively and efficiently. This infographic provides information about how NCIC become essential in the jobs of law enforcement officers.
1. The database is known as NCIC. It contains confidential information about a person. As of date, it has 21 stored files. These files are categorized into two: property files and personal files. The property files contain records of articles, guns, boats, vehicles, licenses and others materials and property that were stolen by someone. On the other hand, the personal files contain information about sex offenders, fugitives, missing person, terrorists, and wanted persons. Also, the NCIC contains images so that officers can properly identify a stolen property or a missing person. How is this information useful to law enforcers?
2. You can only act if you have enough information about an offender. This information can be accessed through the NCIC. Criminal justice agencies in the nation will enter the records of the offender. It will be accessible to different law enforcement agencies. When a crime happens, the law enforcer can check on the identity of the person through the NCIC. If it is confirmed, then, they can take actions to capture the person. By being confirmed means that once the name popped up in the system, the police officers cannot directly handcuff the violator. They must first verify information. After which, actions can be taken.
3. You may ask how the information is verified and certified for its accuracy. The government agency known as CJIS System Agency is the one responsible for the administration of the system. The system makes use of encryptions to prevent access from unauthorized personnel. Aside from that, the NCIC validates and updates the data from time to time to keep its accuracy and veracity. Also, the agencies that are using the database must also update their records.
4. Who should you thank for this system? It is director J. Edgar Hoover. He presided a meeting in which the use of a computerized system was decided. It will be a centralized hub of information about crimes in every state in the country. The first successful usage of the system was in 1967 when a police officer tried it out in a stolen car. However, the newer version of the model comes in with the ability to accept, store and retrieve digital images, expand fields and notifications for delayed inquiries.
5. Protecting one’s facility is not easy especially if it is a large one and visitors come from different parts of a big country. But NCIC seems to be a big help at all.
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