Improving the Completeness, Accuracy, and Research Utility of Criminal History Data

• In Event: The Criminal Justice Data Landscape

Abstract

In 2020, SEARCH launched a program focused on developing standardized methodologies, metrics, and data quality standards for computerized criminal history (CCH) systems nationwide. Through collaboration with state criminal history records repositories, SEARCH has developed a series of data visualizations that enable states to assess and evaluate the completeness, accuracy, consistency, and reliability of their criminal history records. In addition to the development of standardized CCH data metrics, the program also aims to curate CCH data for broader research and analysis on various criminal justice issues, including risk, recidivism, redemption, sealing and expungement practices, and policy evaluations. The criminal history record is a valuable yet underutilized data source for research in operational, criminological, and policy domains. This presentation will provide an overview of the criminal history record, review the measures and visualizations being developed to assess its completeness and accuracy, and explore the research potential of working with improved curated criminal history data.

Author

• Derek Veitenheimer, SEARCH