Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Prisoners Freed After Cops Struggle With New Records Software

Posted by samzenpus on from the get-out-of-jail-free dept.

itwbennett writes Police in Dallas are scrambling after difficulties using a new records management system caused more than 20 jail inmates, including a number of people charged with violent crimes, to be set free. The prisoners were able to get out of jail because police officers struggling to learn the new system didn't file cases on them within three days, as required by law.

6 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Management botched it again by Todd+Knarr · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sounds like a typical bollix-up: the system was a drastic change from the existing one and difficult to use, and has performance problems on top of that, but management still sent it live and turned the old system off without making sure everyone had thorough training. On top of that they didn't have any extra resources on hand to help with the extra workload as people learned the new program on the job and didn't have anybody familiar with the program on hand to help the users. End result: the entirely predictable train wreck occurred. But of course the management responsible for this will never be held accountable for it. Instead the blame will be put on "the software", instead of the management who signed off on the software being acceptable when it manifestly was not.

    1. Re:Management botched it again by stephanruby · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The new platform is made by Intergraph, an Alabama company, according to a report this week in the Dallas Morning News.

      An Alabama company? I guess that's what happens when your Excel programmers aren't paid the market rate.

  2. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  3. Re:This is what a right is by LordLucless · · Score: 4, Insightful

    It's a good thing that the prisoners rights were respected, regardless of the problem being an IT one at root.
    It's a bad thing that an IT problem is causing cops to be unable to file paperwork that would result in proper processing of prisoners

    --
    Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
  4. Re:This is what a right is by mysidia · · Score: 3, Insightful

    IT problems don't abridge that right. Police officers having a tough day don't abridge that right.

    No, but they should have a backup system to meet the 3 day requirement, regardless of any IT issues.

  5. Give cops a break! by Vinegar+Joe · · Score: 1, Insightful

    After all, they're not the sharpest knives in the drawer.

    --
    "The average reporter we talk to is 27 years old......They literally know nothing." - Ben Rhodes