Website Improvements to Increase Access to Statistical Data

The State Justice Statistics (SJS) Program is designed to maintain and enhance each state's capacity to address criminal justice issues through collection and analysis of data. The SJS Program provides support to each state to coordinate and conduct statistical activities within the state, conduct research to estimate impacts of legislative and policy changes, and serve as a liaison in assisting BJS to gather data from respondent agencies within their states.

The Indiana Statistical Analysis Center is housed within the Research and Planning Division of the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute (ICJI). Guided by a Board of Trustees representing all components of Indiana’s criminal and juvenile justice systems, ICJI serves as the State’s planning agency for criminal justice, youth services, traffic safety, and victim services. The Institute develops long range strategies for the effective administration of Indiana’s criminal and juvenile justice systems and administers federal and state funds to carry out these strategies. The SAC is managed by a director and three research associates.

Under this award, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute’s (ICJI) Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) will conduct activities under the following Core Capacity area: Increasing access to statistical data. The proposed project aims to create a more useful and interactive website for the public, subgrantees, and ICJI employees alike. ICJI intends to modify the existing website to be more interactive. Specifically, ICJI will use funding to integrate an interactive mapping tool into the website. This mapping tool, Instant Atlas, has the capability to display county-level data for Indiana. The tool can also display time series graphs where comparisons between counties can be made. In addition to Instant Atlas, ICJI plans to purchase Highcharts, a software used to assist users with creating charts and graphs in HTML code. Highcharts can also be used to create county-level profiles with interactive graphs imbedded. These proposed website improvements will create a user-friendly way for ICJI to distribute and analyze crime and public safety data for Indiana. Funds are also requested for SAC staff to attend the NCJA Conference where JRSA will facilitate a track for the SACs. (CA/NCF)