September 2, 2010    

Statement on the OJA Justice Gateway Letter Report

Senator Lena C. Taylor (D-Milwaukee) today issued the following statement on the letter report from the Legislative Audit Bureau on the Justice Gateway operated by the Office of Justice Assistance (OJA).

“Collecting of data in our justice system is a crucial component of providing resources to the areas that need it the most.  It is a policy goal which Wisconsin should uphold and fund to the extent possible.  Today’s report from the Audit Bureau highlights the success of OJA and the Justice Gateway (JG) to use federal dollars to build a program in less than one year and bring local law enforcement systems online, in my opinion.  Coordinating the involvement of over 149 local law enforcement agencies is not a turn-key effort and future growth merits the continuation of this program.” 

“The number of gateway users will grow exponentially in the coming year as law enforcement will enter traffic stop data through the gateway web-interface.  In addition, with the current request pending in the Joint Finance Committee of $913,000 for BadgerTracs software and the over $2.5 million dollars that will be available from the Department of Transportation, local law enforcement around the state will continue to become partners in collection of data that helps policymakers to make informed decisions.  I look forward to leading efforts to protect and grow these common sense uses of data and information to make better decisions. ”   

Taylor serves as chair of the Special Committee on Criminal Justice Funding and Strategies and the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Corrections, Insurance, Campaign Finance Reform, and Housing; as co-chair of the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties; and as a member of the Joint Committee on Finance.