Photo Courtesy Nlets

Parole, probation and corrections databases have long been a rich source of valuable information. Access to this type of critical data gives law enforcement an accurate picture of an individual’s past violations, as well as their parole or probation status. In addition to the need for real-time information exchange, it’s imperative that agencies have the ability to exchange images.

Nlets received funding from the National Institute of Justice, with support from the Department of Homeland Security, Directorate for Science and Technology, to demonstrate the viability of exchanging corrections information and photos. The project is called the Nationwide Corrections Image and Information Exchange over Nlets (NCIEN). The Automated Regional Justice Information System (ARJIS) San Diego, a regional Nlets member, also received funding for the project. ARJIS manages SRFERS (State, Regional and Federal Enterprise Retrieval System), which seeks to expand the regional sharing of photos via the Nlets network.

Nlets and SRFERS implemented a pilot program for sharing corrections images and inmate information via the Nlets network. As a result of the pilot, North Carolina, Montana and Oregon are now in production and sharing corrections information and images.

The Nlets Transaction
The parole, probation and corrections query (PPQ, PBQ, PCQ, PAQ) transactions enable users to query an individual to determine if they are on parole, probation or under another type of correctional supervision. Only criminal justice agencies authorized to access criminal history records are permitted to receive this data. Nlets returns a “File Not Available” response for non-participating states, as well as states with an inability to manually respond.

Parole, probation and corrections queries require a valid nine-character sending ORI, a two-character destination ORI (originating routing indicator), attention and purpose, and a combination of the following data sets:

• Name;
• Date of birth;
• Social Security number;
• Permit number;
• State ID number;
• FBI number;
• Miscellaneous number; and
• Image.

Although all of these elements may be included in the query, each search element may generate a separate query depending on the state’s capabilities.

Inquiry responses may include any or all of the following data elements:

• Name;
• Address;
• Date of birth;
• Description;
• Social Security number;
• County of registration;
• Date of registration;
• Release/sentence date;
• Next of kin;
• Employer;
• Employer’s address;
• Driver license number;
• Driver license state;
• Driver license expiration;
• Image; and
• No record.

Nlets supports this transaction in legacy text, as well as in XML. There is no uniform response for this message key.

Resources
Requests from local agencies interested in using the parole, probation and corrections message keys must be reviewed by the Nlets state representative. Please direct all requests and questions to [email protected].

About the Author
Chelsea S. Keefer is a document specialist with Nlets, based in Phoenix.

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“Series Introduction”
“International Fuel Tax Association (IFTA) Transaction”
“Coast Guard Vessel Transaction”
“Wildlife Violation Transaction”
“Concealed Weapon Permit Transaction”
“State Warrant Query”
“Sex Offender Transactions”
“Aircraft Registration Transaction”