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to plug the necessary information into the database of the respective agencies.

The diversity and number of jurisdictions in this metropolitan area make information sharing in these “stand alone” or person to person” forms relatively primitive, tedious, inefficient in terms of cost, and fairly ineffective to public safety in Hampton Roads. Further, because of the concentration of federal facilities, ports, military bases, defense industries, road and tunnel systems as well as water systems, gas pipelines and electrical generation facilities, this area is a significant target in terms of state and national security. The sharing of information is vital to our success and growth as a region.

Approximately 20 years ago, the seven major Hampton Roads cities obtained a grant to create a comprehensive regional information management exchange system or CRIMES network. This system was created with three year funding from the Commonwealth of Virginia. A board of directors was created, a vision was developed, and the project was started in earnest. However, the vision of how the system should work didn’t match the technology available at the time; at least not for an affordable cost. As a result, CRIMES recreated itself in several forms over the years but enjoyed limited success. The final version was not easy to use, and was slow. It languished with the few who used it regularly.

SYSTEM OVERHAUL

In 2000, the Hampton Roads Association of Chiefs of Police recognized that CRIMES needed an overhaul and fundamentally recreated it. The hardware and network were fine, but the software and ability to use the system had to be radically updated and improved. The regional chiefs of police embarked on an ambitious project in an effort to realize their original vision of sharing as much criminal justice information as possible with ease and security. With congressional support they were able to secure a $1 million COPS Office grant to develop and implement this new plan. The chiefs association sought out a technology company known for its ability to successfully integrate diverse databases and selected a vendor and integration facilitator for this

project.

This rejuvenated regional endeavor included a provision in which all information systems are integrated, and relevant data in a usable format is easily shared. The system needed to take information from a variety of databases and place that information on an investigator’s desktop computer in a customized format. Localities would still have control over which information was shared and the system would be secure from outside attacks; In other words, an intranet over a virtual private network. By 2002, the new CRIMES network was up and functioning at a higher level and with greater ease than ever before. The original vision was finally achieved.

Now, more than ever, it is imperative to the missions of all the surrounding localities that the CRIMES information network be expanded to allow easy and comprehensive data exchange. The seven smaller localities in Hampton Roads not included in the original network have even fewer resources to dedicate to this critical information infrastructure than their larger counterparts. With the continuing outward growth of the Hampton Roads communities it is essential that this project receive additional funding so that the areas poised for significant expansion are included in this information exchange network.

In an effort to bring these additional jurisdictions on line, and to complete the information circle in Hampton Roads, finding additional funding was essential for the continuation and expansion of this project. We recognize the fiscal constraints imposed by current budgets in today’s economy. However, budgets are an allocation of values. It is more important than ever that public safety have the tools necessary to combat criminality in all forms.

To that end, grant funding became available for localities involved in information sharing projects. The Hampton Roads Association of Chiefs of Police embarked on a proposal to secure new funding to bring the remaining jurisdictions within Hampton Roads onboard with CRIMES. The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) awarded 75% funding for a second phase of this project. The remaining 25 percent was apportioned to all CRIMES