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Introduction and General Information
The Texas Criminal Justice Information Users' Group (TCJIUG)
is a nonprofit (501 C.3), apolitical organization governed by bylaws initially
adopted in January 1974 and incorporated in 1977 . Due to technological
advancement, funding changes and membership diversification, the
general focus of TCJIUG has changed over the years, but the basic
objectives of the organization have remained constant:
* Placing emphasis
on delivery of information, education and training to organization
members.
* Progressively moving
the organization forward to serve the needs of the membership and the Criminal
Justice sector.
* Exploring methods of
applying technology to industry needs and making technology solutions more
readily and economically available to users
* Exploring every
method possible to cut costs and maintain a responsible economic approach
to activities without sacrificing quality.
* Maintaining good working
relationships with State and Federal agencies and promoting new relationships
with other criminal justice organizations.
TCJIUG members consist mainly of operational, management
and political levels of law enforcement, communications and information
systems personnel, with members from related fields in associate membership
roles.
Your membership in TCJIUG provides you and your agency
the benefits of input into the formation of policy matters arising out
of new legislation, quality education and training at low cost and networking
opportunities among peers from across the state.
Our membership has been called upon to serve on committees
to establish procedures for the implementation of the state criminal justice
information system (CJIS) reporting for all agencies. TCJIUG is playing
an important role in the exploration and development of integrated justice
information systems (IJIS) statewide by sponsoring meetings of exploratory
groups and providing program segments related to IJIS.
General educational conferences/business meetings are
held each year. The three-day general conferences of presentations
on technology, new criminal justice legislation, and management practices
often draw over one hundred members and representatives of related vendor
entities. Specialized training seminars may be offered as relevant
subject matter arises.
TCJIUG is a training provider for Texas Commission on
Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) with frequently
scheduled Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trainers and other
trainers for special programs like Domestic Violence, Cultural Diversity,
Racial Profiling, Asset Forfeiture and Hate Crime Reporting. Full
day Terminal Access Coordinator (TAC) and Texas Law Enforcement Telecommunication
System (TLETS) operator training is featured at each general conference.
Each conference provides substantial numbers of hours of TCLEOSE credit.
TCJIUG also provides introductory training in technical
fields such as geographical information systems (GIS) and web applications
development
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Texas DPS,
the Attorney General's Office, and the Criminal Justice Planning Council
are frequent presenters at our conferences. Because the presenters
very often are also members of our organization, there is an opportunity
to informally discuss your particular agency's needs with the people responsible
for the programs affecting your daily functions.
TCJIUG has created standing committees in an effort to
attain the previous objectives. Each of the standing committees is
chaired by a Board member and has established goals and guidelines.
TCJIUG was formally organized at a meeting held
in Dallas, Texas September 27-28, 1973. The organization developed
gradually over a period of years beginning with irregular meetings in Austin,
Texas sponsored by the staff of the Criminal Justice Council during the
late 1960s.
All agencies that received grants or applied for grants
were required to attend these meetings. Each grantee gave a brief
description of the status of their projects and common problems were discussed.
From these meetings, a need was identified to assist agencies
with the increasingly complex challenges of new technology. During
the mid 1980s, TCJIUG grew from the original 30 members to more than 200
dues paying members, representing state, county and local agencies from
all facets of the criminal justice system, .
The
Officers and Board of Directors are
happy to answer any questions you may have regarding our organization.
Or if you would like information about membership, call or e-mail any of
the Officers or write to
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