Public Safety and Justice Information Systems Today
There are many types of "standard" information systems used by public safety and justice professionals today: Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), police records (RMS), fire records, incident command, jail records (including incarceration, release and parole data), pawned property, warrants and many more. Each of these systems plays an invaluable role in supporting our front-line defenders of public safety.
Unfortunately, few of these systems talk to each other as they come from many different vendors using different, incompatible technologies, database schemas and communications protocols. Furthermore, the many different agencies involved (fire vs. police, police vs. sheriff, etc.) have many different security requirements; EMS agencies can't share patient care data with police who, in turn, cannot share information about suspects with fire.
Data Sharing is Vital
When law enforcement officers, firefighters and other public safety professionals don't have the data they need, it isn't just an inconvenience: lives may be at stake.
Other Data Too
There is also a lot of "non-public safety" data out there that can help public safety professionals. Information from the department of transportation, the port, the water department or the utility providers are just a few examples of data that may be needed for real-time decision making.