How Sentencing Commissions Can Make Critical Information Easier to Access

Sentencing commissions manage a tremendous amount of information that probation officers, attorneys, court personnel, and other criminal justice professionals need to access quickly and accurately. Mobile technology can make that information easier to find, use, and keep up to date—whether someone is in the office, in the field, or in the courtroom. From searchable sentencing resources and mobile manuals to text alerts and training information, simple mobile tools can help put critical information directly into the hands of the people who need it.

The Virginia Sentencing Commission offers a great example of how these tools can be put into practice. Here are four ways mobile technology can support sentencing commissions and the professionals they serve.

CRIME CODER

Throughout Virginia, probation officers and attorneys rely on Crime Coder to identify:

• Sentencing guidelines offenses

• Statutes for criminal offenses

• Corresponding penalty structures

• Offenses designated by the Code of Virginia as violent offenses

Users enter a search term or a partial statute into Crime Coder where they can then view requested information on their smartphones.

MOBILE MANUAL Similar to our physical sentencing guidelines binder, the Mobile Manual includes the same information but instead can be conveniently stored on your smartphone. Designed for a mobile device and not a PDF, the manual is divided by section, neatly displayed, and can be brought into the courtroom for use during sentencing.

MOBILE MANUAL

Similar to our physical sentencing guidelines binder, the Mobile Manual includes the same information but instead can be conveniently stored on your smartphone. Designed for a mobile device and not a PDF, the manual is divided by section, neatly displayed, and can be brought into the courtroom for use during sentencing.

MOBILE WEBSITE

Our mobile website lets users quickly connect to the Mobile Manual and Crime Coder. They can contact staff by calling, texting, or emailing questions straight from their mobile devices. Plus, any content on the mobile website can be easily updated to address current topics or issues. The mobile website allows users to:

• Register for training seminars
• Get driving directions to training facilities
• Access FAQs and related documents that can be used in court
• Save a link to their smartphones so they can obtain any information, from the Code of Virginia to the complete guidelines

TEXT MESSAGING

We use text messaging to address changes to sentencing guidelines or to correct common errors and is an efficient and powerful way to promote accurate completion of sentencing guidelines.