The Metropolitan King County Council today unanimously approved a motion that looks to streamline the sharing of information between the agencies that make up King County’s criminal justice system.

“One of the goals of the Adult Justice Operational Master Plan is to increase efficiency within the system so funds can be directed towards both secure incarceration and alternatives to jail time for those who need it,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett, chair of the council’s Law, Justice and Human Services Committee. “This sets in motion a program to help remove the barriers that prevent quick communication between justice agencies by significantly reducing duplication of paperwork. It will help reduce costs even as it speeds up the process for those who enter the criminal justice system.”

The Law, Safety and Justice Strategic Integration Plan looks to save the county money by helping integrate computer systems, allowing the computers in the agencies that make up the county’s criminal justice system to "talk" to each other. The integration will eliminate redundant data entry, improve public safety, and will result in a net savings to the County of over $10 million in the next 10 years. 

“Last year Governing Magazine gave King County a ‘C-‘ on its approach to technology,” said Councilmember Jane Hague, a co-sponsor of the motion with Gossett.  “We're all doing our homework with this effort, and both the public and the County will benefit.  We hope that the implementation of this plan will raise our grade.”

The plan involves 7 projects over 3 years with a total estimated cost of $6.2 million. The funding for the project will come in part from the $6.1 million in reductions that the council identified in the jail when they adopted the 2003 budget.

“We are laying the groundwork for a program that will help us meet the continuing budget challenge facing King County,” said Budget and Fiscal Management Chair Larry Phillips.  “Almost two-thirds of the county’s general fund is spent on the criminal justice system. It doesn’t make sense to have people entering data multiple times in multiple computer systems. This plan will help us reduce costs and increase efficiency while keeping the public safe.”  

 

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system at http://mkcclegisearch.metrokc.gov and type in “2002-0550”