How JA$98.1 million JCF Electronic Database connected to National DNA Registry and Telecoms Records

“If we can properly track them and keep them under control, this will assist us in keeping our crime problem down,” the minister stated, while hailing the British Government as a “tremendous supporter” of Jamaica and the JCF”

Minister of Justice, Delroy Chuck, commenting on the installation and inauguration of the JCF Electronic Database

Criminals may soon have a harder time escaping the long arm of the Jamaican Police.

This as the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) criminal records Database has been made into an Electronic Database as reported in “Criminal records system computerized”, published Friday, June 03, 2016, The Jamaica Observer.

 The JCF Electronic Database was formally launched on Friday June 3^rd 2016 at the Police Officers’ Club on Hope Road in St Andrew. Justice Minister Delroy Chuck addressed gathering at the Police Officers’ Club on Hope Road in St Andrew.

The JCF Electronic Database, completed at a cost of $98.1 million with assistance from the Government of the United Kingdom and UK-based ACRO Criminal Records Office, replaces the manual format of documentation at the Criminal Records Office on Duke Street in Kingston.

Other officials in attendance were:

1.      National Security State Minister, Senator Pearnel Charles

2.      Acting British High Commissioner to Jamaica, Her Excellency Julia Sutherland

3.      Chief Justice, Zaila McCalla

4.      Deputy Commissioner of Police, Novelette Grant

Dr Carl Williams, was being represented by Deputy Commissioner of Police who was absent, Novelette Grant, was in attendance. The JCF need all the help they can get, as crime is spiralling out of control after the first 100 days since the JLP ascended to power as noted in “Zero Rating For Crime In First 100 Days”, Published Thursday June 9, 2016 by Erica Virtue, The Jamaica Gleaner. 

So how exactly will this JCF Electronic Database help the JCF?

JCF Electronic Database - Modernization of the Manual Database of Criminal Records

JCF Electronic Database is geared at streamlining the collection of Police records as it relates to:

1.      Collation of Criminal Data

2.      Storage of new and existing data

3.      Retrieval for use in investigations and court hearings

The JCF Electronic Database is Phase one of a (2) two phase program for upgrading the collection and maintenance of criminal records in database. The Second Phase will involved the installation of a $134 million (£750,000) JCF’s fingerprint database, with the majority of the financing being supplied by the UK Government’s Home Office Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.

Already the collaboration has resulted in facilitated training of several JCF officers to use the new JCF Electronic Database. So how can the JDF use these two (2) databases, the JCF Electronic Database of Criminal Records and the Fingerprint Database to more effectively fight crime?

JCF Electronic Database - Linking fingerprints, DNA and CCTV Data to track Criminals

For one, it now means that identifying criminals from the general population from forensic evidence will become easier.

There is the possibility that these databases may also be connected to the implementation and provisioning of a National DNA Registry under the newly minted DNA Evidence Act of 2010 which came into effect on Friday December 11th 3015 as reported in my blog article entitled “How the DNA Evidence Act of 2010 passed by Upper House means DNA Searches coming”. 

The UK may also be helping Jamaica to not only set up the National DNA Registry but even merge them with the criminal records and fingerprints in the JCF Electronic Database. This'll potentially have an impact on evidence gathering, as it means you can be identified based on your DNA sample or fingerprints.

The JCF Electronic Database may even be possible to use audio, picture and video evidence obtained from the planned CCTV Network to catch traffic offenders, especially motorcyclists now that they have to have Driver's licenses as noted in my blog article entitled “Why Jamaican Motorcyclists will now have to have a Driver's License”.

It may even allow the JCF to more appropriately gain access to Telecoms Records from the Telecom Providers whenever a smartphone or other device is recovered from the scene of a crime instead of the cumbersome request procedure that is required as noted in my blog article entitled “Digicel Jamaica vs INDECOM and How Jamaican Police can access to Call Subscriber Records”. 

This will all possible once GovNET is completed as described in my blog article entitled “How State Minister Dr. Morais Guy KSA Fiber Optic Network heralds HD CCTV Cameras and Automated Traffic Ticketing System” and the Government and Civil Servants, including the JCF Electronic Database are connected.