Connecticut Governor announces criminal justice IT upgrade initiative

On Saturday, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell, announced that the state will allocate $3 million in federal funds to the state’s Division of Criminal Justice in order to modernize its IT system. The plan aims to allow prosecutors and law enforcement to share data on offenders. The initiative is part of a broader effort to reform and upgrade Connecticut’s criminal justice system.

According to the announcement, the initiative is funded with federal criminal justice grants, including stimulus funds, allowing the state to build a system that will allow prosecutors and investigators to manage their cases electronically and share data by linking various criminal justice databases.

The initiative will also set up the framework for the more comprehensive Connecticut Information Sharing System (CISS) which aims allow criminal justice and law enforcement agencies throughout the state have access to one centralized database of information by 2013.

“Keeping our families and communities safe is the most important task of government,” Governor Rell said. “The dedicated men and women who keep dangerous criminals off the streets must have the best technology and tools available to carry out that mission.”