CA- CDCR Strategic Offender Management System Project will Automate and Streamline Information Sharing

4-24-2009 California:

Project Will Consolidate More than 40 Offender Data Systems

SACRAMENTO - The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) announced today the intent to award a contract to EDS, an HP company, to begin a multimillion-dollar effort to automate and streamline offender data systems. The project, called the Strategic Offender Management System (SOMS), will consolidate existing databases and records and replace manual paper processes over a four year contract period. SOMS will upgrade and standardize adult and juvenile data and population management practices to further enhance staff, offender and public safety.

"SOMS will revolutionize the process for sharing and utilizing offender data, and will significantly improve offender management processes,” said Matthew Cate, CDCR Secretary. “Even in these challenging financial times, the benefits to the state are immense. For the first time in our agency’s history, we will have a unified, automated system for tracking offenders. We are confident that EDS can do this for us in the timeline provided and we look forward to working with them.”

SOMS will replace more than 40 aging electronic and paper database systems, which are becoming increasingly difficult and costly to maintain. The system will contain an “Electronic C-file” for inmates and provide the opportunity for electronic data exchange--with Jails, Courts and the Office of Prison Healthcare Services.
.
The SOMS project – which will cost $245 million over the four year contract – will also lead to a higher level of continuity of rehabilitation and other programming for the offenders when they transition from custody into the community. Coordinating offender information, risk and needs assessments, case management plans, and other data into a streamlined system will allow custody and programs staff to better manage the offender population, which should lead to a reduced recidivism rate. The project is expected to kick off the first week of May 2009 and take approximately four years for full implementation.
..News Source..