What is the Data Architecture all about?

The Justice Common Data Architecture is a framework to help criminal justice agencies in various jurisdictions share information with each other in more effective ways. This project is one key part of the statewide Justice Information Strategic Plan supported by legislation several years ago (RCW 10.98). When the Strategic Plan is fully enacted, any criminal justice practitioner will have access to complete, timely, and accurate information about any suspect or offender in the state. Likewise, policy makers will gain access to valuable data rolled into more usable forms designed around user needs as well as system considerations.

How will the Common Data Architecture work?

Data must be made uniform before it can be shared easily among users with different systems and needs. The Common Data Architecture will help standardize data elements and data handling procedures among criminal justice agencies and jurisdictions. This will allow the data to be more easily and reliably exchanged between and among systems. The Architecture will reduce redundancy and improve data integrity, accuracy, and reduce development time for new systems.

How was the Architecture developed?

The Architecture was designed around the data needs of system users, including the needs of policy makers and managers involved in long-term criminal justice planning. The architectural approach assures that data will be recognized as valuable resources in themselves.

Ten years ago, much vital information about serious offenders was not being received by the state agencies maintaining official criminal records. Partial implementation of the Strategic Plan already has improved reporting dramatically. Further progress requires structural changes to information systems statewide. The Architecture will help make those structural changes across Washington's large and disparate justice information systems. The ultimate goal is to build an efficient statewide information network for the entire justice system.

Work on the Architecture began by examining the flow of judgment and sentencing information from the Office of the Administrator for the Courts to the Washington State Patrol. Information systems and procedures in Yakima and Pierce Counties also were reviewed to help shape the initial Architecture described in this document. In the future, additional counties will be studied and the Architecture updated based on what is learned in those jurisdictions.

Architectural Components
This document contains the following components that will be of interest to information processing professionals:

• Data dictionary
• Major data interfaces
• Entity relationship diagrams
• Process models
• Subject area models

The document also includes recommendations that state and local entities:

1. Assign standards that can be voluntarily adopted statewide to make data elements formats, lengths, and values more uniform.
2. Encourage both data-transmitting and data-receiving operations to take responsibility for translating to and from the standardized formats.
3. Assign responsibility for maintaining specific data codes to a single entity.
4. Fund efforts to expand and maintain the Architecture as a "living" document.

Data Sharing with the Architecture in Place

Things you can do to help make the Architecture work:

• Adopt these standards to improve information sharing with other justice agencies.
• Provide feedback ot he Justice Information Committee on this Data Architecture.
• Provide the names, addresses, and phone numbers of personnel in your organization who should receive future materials discussing the Architecture and the Justice Information Committee's overall Strategic Plan.
• Notify the Justice Information Committee if you would like copies of this document mailed to other members of your staff.