Sentencing
The Sentencing Guidelines Software Web (SGS Web) application
is Cross Current Corporation’s web-based Sentencing Guideline System. SGS Web
automates the process mandated to the State Sentencing Commission to maintain a
"consistent and rational statewide sentencing policy" for more uniform
sentencing practices, leading to greater equity and fairness. SGS Web
automates the business rules that provide judges with a "common reference point
for sentencing".
SGS Web provides a web-based interface for reporting sentencing data. SGS Web
enables efficient data collection and enforces the "business rules" surrounding
sentencing data, including the enforcement of mandatory minimum sentences and
statutory maximum sentences.
County court employees enter Offender, Judicial Proceeding, Offense, and
Sentence data via forms presented in their web browser. All information is
recorded in a centralized database and is available immediately to both County
and Sentencing Commission personnel. Reports are available at any time.
SGS Web can be customized to your needs. Customized
versions of our SGS Web application are currently being used by the Pennsylvania
Sentencing Commission, District of Columbia Sentencing Commission and Virginia
Sentencing Commission.
Please see below for SGS Web’s Features and Benefits for Pennsylvania, DC and Virginia.
Pennsylvania
The SGSWeb application, built for the Pennsylvania
Commission on Sentencing (PCS) in 2000.
- Distributed Reporting Process - the 67 counties [will] each report their own
data electronically (paperless).
- Centralized Database - all data available in one place, as soon as it is
reported
- Increased data reporting quality due to pick lists and edit checks
- Enforcement of sentencing "business rules" and statutory limitation
- Grid-based Sentencing Guideline recommendations (Criminal History Score vs.
Offense Gravity Score)
- Checks Sentence for conformity to guidelines, requires departure reasons
- Auditing
- Reporting / Data Analysis
- Secure environment (Pennsylvania Justice Network – JNET)
The VA Sentencing application was built for the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission in 2003.
- Provided automation for existing paper process
- Distributed Sentence Reporting - counties can report electronically (paperless)
- Centralized Database
- Non-grid based Sentencing Guideline recommendations – many factors, several
rules employed.
Washington, D.C.
DC SGS application was delivered in 2005.
Similar to PA system, updated technology, changes based on lessons learned
- Product oriented - to be customizable for other sentencing commissions.
- Based on framework from VA system
- Additional workflow features
- Semi-grid based Guideline Recommendations (grid + non-grid rules)
- Reports are available at any time.
- In addition to enabling efficient data collection, SGS Web enforces the "business rules calculation” of Offense Gravity Score (OGS)
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