CrimeReports.com - Glossary of Terms

Public Engines - A company that helps government agencies manage the sharing of information directly with local communities. Through its first product, CrimeReports.com, Public Engines provides law enforcement agencies with an affordable and easy-to-use Web-based service for sharing crime information with the public in near real-time. Community members can then access this information for free, empowering them to make informed decisions to help improve the safety of their families, friends, property and the community at large.

CrimeReports.com - Public Engines' first software-as-a-service (SaaS) product. It allows law enforcement agencies to share local crime reports to community members in near real-time.

Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) - A method of dispatching emergency services assisted by computer. It can either be used to send messages to the dispatchee via a mobile data terminal or to store and retrieve data (i.e. radio logs, field interviews, client information, schedules, etc.). The central idea is that persons in a dispatch center are able to easily view and understand the status of all units being dispatched. CAD provides displays and tools so that the dispatcher has an opportunity to handle calls-for-service as efficiently as possible.

Community member - An individual who lives in a given geographic location that constitutes a community.

Community policing - A policing strategy and philosophy based on the notion that community interaction and support can help control crime, with community members helping to identify suspects, and bring problems to the attention of police.

CrimeReports Publisher (the Publisher) - The client-facing application installed on the Local Area Network of a law enforcement agency to allow them to publish their crime information to CrimeReports.com. The Publisher uses GJXML, effectively "receiving" data from the agency through a secure connection.

CrimeReports Web Application - The public-facing Web application that allows community members to access, via the Web, map-0based crime information for their neighborhoods and communities.

Email Alerting - An option given to community members to receive time-sensitive information in near real-time through the email account they provide to CrimeReports.com. A user selects the option to receive email alerts, and can chose from options including daily, weekly or monthly alerting.

Foundation Partners - A group of 30 law enforcement agencies set up by Public Engines to provide guidance and input into the direction of further product development around CrimeReports.com.

GeoCoding - The process of assigning geographic identifiers (e.g., codes or geographic coordinates expressed as latitude-longitude) to map features and other data records, such as street addresses. At CrimeReports.com, Google Maps are used to GeoCode specific crime data provided by law enforcement agencies to indicate on which city block a crime occurred.

Global Justice XML Data Model (Global JXDM or GJXDM) - A data reference model for exchanging information between the justice and public safety communities, including the Department of Justice, the FBI and local law enforcement agencies throughout the United States and around the world. The Global JXDM is an XML (eXtensible Markup Language) standard designed specifically for criminal justice information exchanges, providing law enforcement, public safety agencies, prosecutors, public defenders and the judicial branch with a tool to effectively share data and information in a timely manner. The Global JXDM removes the burden from agencies to independently create exchange standards, and because of its extensibility there is more flexibility to deal with unique agency requirements and changes. The CrimeReports Publisher fits perfectly into the GJXDM system.

Law Enforcement Dashboard - A client-facing application that provides an at-a-glance crime dashboard service in near-real time for street level officers and commanders.

Neighborhood Watch Tools - A Web-based interface developed independently of CrimeReports.com that helps communities create an actionable, community-based interface for collaboration and organization against crime.

Short Message Service (SMS) Alerting - Initially developed for college and university-based communities, this service will allow law enforcement officers to select distinct neighborhoods using mouse clicks to generate SMS-based messages to community members who live in the target area.

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) - A software delivery method that provides access to software and its functions remotely as a Web-based service.

Important Acronyms:

CAD - Computer Aided Dispatch

DHS - Department of Homeland Security

DOJ - Department of Justice

EMS - Emergency Medical Services

FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation

IACP - International Association of Chiefs of Police

LEA - Law Enforcement Agency

MCC - Major Chiefs Conference

NSA - National Sheriffs' Association (National Sheriffs' Association)

RMS - Records Management System

SMS - Short Message Service

USAG - United States Attorney General

XML - eXtensible Markup Language