The Justice process is a high-level look at the steps taken to uphold the law and ensure public safety in Washington State. Within this document, we have broken this high level process down into eight sub-processes. These sub-processes are described on the next page.

This draft document does not claim to encompass all of the sub-processes within the criminal justice realm. At this time, we have concentrated on identifying the major interfaces between agencies, both state and local, in the hopes of including as many players as possible.

The following data flow diagram (DFD) explains the overall process of justice and where each of the sub-processes interface.

2.1.1  Data Flow Diagram

Justice System

2.1.2  Process Definitions

Incident Reporting

This process deals with incidents and the reporting thereof. It does not encompass or model intelligence information relating to incidents.

An incident is defined as an event reported to a Law Enforcement Agency. Incident reporting is the act of compiling the information collected about that incident.

Arrest

The process of depriving a person of his or her liberty by legal authority.

Booking

This process contains the steps taken after an arrested person is brought to the police station, which may involve recording relevant facts, fingerprinting and other procedures as required.

Identification

The process of identifying an individual (suspect) in custody.

Charge Determination

The procedural step within the criminal process in which the prosecuting official determines the charge(s) to be filed by Complaint or Information, or, (rarely) elects to have the legal validity of a proposed charge made by a judge (at a preliminary hearing), or by a grand jury.

Arraignment

The procedure whereby the accused is brought before the court to plead to the criminal charge against him in the indictment or "information." The charge is read to him and he is asked to plead "guilty" or "not-guilty" or, where permitted, "nolo contendere."

Adjudication

The adjudication process is an accumulation of several criminal justice processes. It includes the outcome of the arraignment process, plea bargaining, and the outcome of the trial, if one has taken place.

Sentencing

The judgment formally pronounced by the court or judge upon the defendant after his conviction in a criminal prosecution, imposing the punishment to be inflicted, usually in the form of a fine, incarceration, or probation/community supervision.

Correction Administration

This process controls the various administrational functions after judgment and sentencing,including prison and/or jail terms, work release, etc.

There are six major interfaces that have been defined at this time. They are:

1. Incident Reporting (IBR)
2. Fingerprint Card
3. Suspect Information Report (SIR)
4. Charging Documents, (including the Information, Complaint and Citation)
5. Disposition Report (also known as the "Pink")
6. Judgment and Sentence.

The Subcommittee used these documents to collect the majority of the data elements that have been defined to date. These documents are described in more detail on the following pages.