CriMNet is the state of Minnesota's platform for the sharing of criminal justice information. Many criminal justice professionals say this is one of the nation's best examples of an integrated information system. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety answered these questions from The Corrections Connection:

Q: In what capacity has the DOC been involved with CriMNet?

The DOC is intricately involved with the statewide integration effort known as CriMNet.  Per Statute, the Commissioner is one of eight members of a Policy Group that oversees the CriMNet effort.  Department staff are also a part of numerous groups, committees, task forces, and working groups that are addressing the business issues raised when centralizing justice information, such as data practices, security issues, agreed upon standards, etc.

Additionally, the DOC has been a key player in the development of the centralized electronic access of criminal justice information through the CriMNet backbone.  The department's Statewide Supervision System (S3) is one of the first state systems connected to the CriMNet backbone. 

Q: Has the Statewide Supervision System been effective?  How has it helped the DOC?

The Statewide Supervision System (S3) was developed by the DOC, in cooperation of corrections agencies in all 87 counties.  Prior to S3, there was not a central repository of information on individuals under supervision in Minnesota.  As Minnesota has a community corrections approach for supervision, obtaining agreed upon information to be centralized was a huge logistical and political under taking.

S3 has been an extremely successful tool for criminal justice agencies across the state.  Currently the system has over 7,000 users from all aspects of the criminal justice system (law enforcement, jails, prosecution, courts, probation, prison).  All 87 counties provide probation data; all jails submit booking data; prison data is available via the website.   

DOC has benefited for a number of reasons.   Probation and Prison staff have readily available statewide data that increases the accuracy of the investigation and supervision of offenders.  In addition, the availability of statewide data has simplified federal and state reporting and data analysis for planning purposes.

Q: Do all agencies currently have access to the Predatory Offender Registry?

The Predatory Offender Registry is managed out of the Department of Public Safety.  Questions on agency participation would need to be forwarded to that agency.

Q: How has the DOC interacted with the registry?

DOC has executed the required joint powers agreement with the Department of Public safety allowing staff access per statutory requirements for usage.

Q: What does the DOC hope to gain from CriMNet?

DOC, as with all other criminal justice agencies, are planning to electronically exchange information between systems that cross branches of government (executive, judiciary, and legislative), levels of government (local, state, and national), and justice disciplines (law enforcement, courts, corrections, etc).

By coordinating information the state could greatly reduce redundancy of data, as well as increase timeliness, accuracy and completeness of information available to all justice professionals.

Q: What is the importance of sharing information with other criminal justice agencies to the DOC?  How does it help corrections?

Information is the core element that the criminal justice process is based on, to determine innocence, guilt, sanctions, and compliance.  The greater the amount of information available to the justice professional, be it a judge, law enforcement office, probation officer, jailer, or prison official, the more informed their decisions can be for sanctions, security, and supervision.