Monday, September 11, 2006
Contact: Spence Jackson, 573-751-0290
Blunt’s Efforts to Consolidate Resources Helps Protect Missouri Families, Enhance Public Safety
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt today announced consolidating and coordinating state resources is helping the Missouri Department of Corrections enhance electronic records, improve efficiency, and step up public safety.
“We are constantly streamlining state government. As a result we are saving taxpayer dollars for hardworking Missouri taxpayers," Blunt said. "The Department of Corrections' efforts to improve efficiency and coordinate resources are particularly notable as the result will also enhance public safety by helping to keep dangerous criminals behind bars.”
The Department of Corrections recently upgraded their electronic records system to include information regarding DNA samples. The Internet based system, called the Law Enforcement Notification System (LENS), is shared among state and local law enforcement and helps track and obtain inmate information and share notices regarding escapes, parole hearings, transfers to other institutions and release from custody. Including DNA sample information in the LENS system allows law enforcement partners to determine when the department has performed DNA testing on an inmate.
“Through a quick LENS inquiry, the county correctional facility can determine if an inmate’s DNA sample was previously submitted to the State Crime Laboratory by the Corrections Department. This information will decrease the burden of processing multiple samples on the same offenders and could reduce resources used in solving crimes,” said Department of Corrections Director Larry Crawford.
The DNA Sample field will also help local law enforcement agencies comply with statutory requirements, and will help the Highway Patrol improve efficiency by reducing the number of redundant samples submitted.
LENS is the first system in the department to benefit from joint development resources created when the governor consolidated statewide information technology services.
For more information about LENS and the new DNA field contact the Department of Corrections, Brian Hauswirth, at 573-522-1118.
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