Massachusetts CORI record abuse, should the state implement new safegaurds?
Govovernor Deval Patrik's administration intends to funnel nearly $60 million into the commonwealth’s outdated criminal records system after a scathing audit released yesterday showed 38,000 cases - some involving murderers and rapists - fell through the cracks.
“This system is seriously out of touch and has serious public safety consequences,” state Auditor Joseph DeNucci said yesterday. “You have investigators and police officers looking for information and they can’t get it.”
The yearlong review by state Auditor A. Joseph DeNucci depicts a system repeatedly accessed by users "without any apparent work-related justification."
Such unauthorized use could be considered fraud under federal law, and "disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal and/or criminal prosecution" could follow misuse of the system, DeNucci's audit said.
Links:
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2009_05_06_Audit_reinforces_governor_s_plan_for__60M_CORI_overhaul/
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/05/06/police_prying_into_stars_data/