Marnie Posted April 9, 2007 Group: Royal Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 811 Topics Per Day: 0.12 Content Count: 7,338 Content Per Day: 1.08 Reputation: 76 Days Won: 2 Joined: 10/06/2005 Status: Offline Share Posted April 9, 2007 Pennsylvania's new statewide computer system makes it possible for the first time to put a number on how many warrants remain unserved across the state - 1.4 million, including more than 100 for homicide, The Associated Press has found. Pennsylvania is now the largest state to complete such a comprehensive court computer network, although several other large states - including California, New York and Ohio - are planning or implementing such systems, according to the National Center for State Courts in Williamsburg, Va. The database is designed, in part, to help authorities reach across county lines to capture fugitives who have moved to avoid detection. It will also allow government officials and the public to compare how courts are performing from county to county. "Because of this automation, it's becoming harder to run from the law," said Steve Schell, spokesman for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Figures on the number of unserved warrants were generated by the state courts administration at the request of The Associated Press. The data, based on an April 1 snapshot, show the overwhelming number of outstanding warrants - 1.2 million - were for less serious offenses, including traffic violations. However, in addition to the homicide cases there were thousands of outstanding warrants for such violent crimes as aggravated assault, sexual offenses and robbery. More common charges in the warrant database include drug offenses, drunken driving and theft. The Armstrong County clerk of courts, Brenda George, said she has learned not to overreact when someone paying a fine at her counter triggers the computer system's yellow "WO" alert, indicating a warrant is pending. She quietly summons a deputy. "We've had some circumstances where we've said 'Hold on, you have a warrant, we need to get the sheriff,' and they've run down the hall," she said. The system, which went fully online in September, also gives the public instant Internet access to case docket information, with more detailed information - including access to the warrants - available to law enforcement and court officials. "Better information equals better justice," said James E. McMillan, principal court technology consultant for the National Center for State Courts. "Because when you have more complete and more accurate information, you don't make as many mistakes." The system also improves scheduling, makes it simpler to move cases from one level to the next, and gives judges more information about a person's background for setting bail. Among other states, Indiana will be testing a new computer system in some counties in the next two years that will provide a statewide warrants database, said Mary L. DePrez, a technology officer with the Indiana Supreme Court. Pennsylvania spent $105 million on its Common Pleas Case Management System, which required buying and installing more than 800 computers and training thousands of workers during the past three years. AP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGR Posted April 9, 2007 Group: Royal Member Followers: 2 Topic Count: 512 Topics Per Day: 0.07 Content Count: 8,601 Content Per Day: 1.13 Reputation: 125 Days Won: 2 Joined: 07/16/2003 Status: Offline Birthday: 12/04/1973 Share Posted April 9, 2007 You can't run, but you can't hide, lol! Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axxman Posted April 9, 2007 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 24 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 3,292 Content Per Day: 0.52 Reputation: 11 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/21/2007 Status: Offline Share Posted April 9, 2007 Holy Smokes!!! The jail system is over-crowded to begin with...what're they gonna do with all those people? Now most of them can probably be field released...but if even a third of them spend one or two days in jail...thats gonna be a HUGE burden on the system. In Arizona, it is law that if you have a warrant, you MUST be taken to jail and be processed (fingerprints and photo). I can't even imagine how our woefully understaffed and crowded jail system would accomodate that many warrants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoMike Posted April 9, 2007 Group: Advanced Member Followers: 1 Topic Count: 9 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 499 Content Per Day: 0.08 Reputation: 3 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/21/2007 Status: Offline Birthday: 01/27/1964 Share Posted April 9, 2007 It doesn't help that a lot of these "warrants" are, to me, frivolous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axxman Posted April 10, 2007 Group: Royal Member Followers: 0 Topic Count: 24 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 3,292 Content Per Day: 0.52 Reputation: 11 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/21/2007 Status: Offline Share Posted April 10, 2007 It doesn't help that a lot of these "warrants" are, to me, frivolous. How can a warrant be frivolous? A person only gets a warrant for not complying with directives of the court. If you don't attend your court date...you get a warrant for your arrest. If you don't pay your fine...you get a warrant for your arrest. Warrants are earned by non-compliance with the judicial process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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