Winnebago County, IL Case Study
Case Study
The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department is a law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining public safety and order within Winnebago County, Illinois. The department is headed by Sheriff Gary Caruana and consists of over 350 employees, including deputies, correctional officers, and support staff. The department is responsible for a variety of services, including law enforcement, court security, civil process, and the operation of the Winnebago County Jail. The Sheriff’s Department is committed to serving the community with integrity, professionalism, and dedication to keeping citizens safe.
In 2021 MTOP Enterprise was contracted by the Sheriff’s department to deploy MTOP “Smart Suite” developed for the City of Rockford IL. MTOP’s team worked directly with Lt Ponte to deploy several modules within the Smart Suite application in addition to developing a new custom reporting module added Smart Suite, which allows MTOP to connect to the Offender Track jail database via an API and create any custom reports.
The mission of the Sheriff’s Department was to begin in the sharing of information with neighboring jurisdictions from a single application developed and managed by MTOP Enterprise. Sharing information with neighboring jurisdictions from a single application is crucial in ensuring public safety and effective law enforcement. It allows for seamless communication and collaboration between agencies, which is vital in responding to emergencies and investigating crimes that may span across multiple jurisdictions. A single application that all agencies can access and use ensures that everyone has access to the same information and reduces the likelihood of miscommunication or missed information. This type of shared system can also help identify trends and patterns in criminal activity, allowing for a more comprehensive and strategic approach to crime prevention. Overall, sharing information from a single application promotes better coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness in law enforcement efforts, ultimately leading to safer communities.
Solutions Deployed
On Premise VMS
The installation, programming, and 24×7 support of a video surveillance solution for suicide cells in the Winnebago County Jail involved a range of services to ensure that the system is effective and reliable. Firstly, the installation of the solution required site surveys, design and engineering, and hardware installation. Once the hardware was installed, the system needed to be programmed and configured to meet the specific requirements of the suicide cells. Ongoing support is essential, with 24×7 monitoring and maintenance to ensure that the system is functioning correctly and any issues are promptly addressed. Support also involves regular software updates and firmware upgrades to keep the system up-to-date and secure. Additionally, user training and technical support was provided to jail staff to ensure they are proficient in using the MTOP system. Overall, the services provided were comprehensive and tailored to the unique needs of the Winnebago County Jail.
Report Generator
Develop a custom report generator to offer a variety of features such as customizable templates, multiple user levels with restrictions, case workflows, web-based report access and pdf report exports. In addition, integrate with other software applications or databases to extract data for reporting purposes. The first integration was with the jail database offender track.
Features:
Fully Customized Report Templates
12 Field types
Customized Field Layout
Customized Category Breakdowns
Customized External Integrations for Fields
Infinite Number of Templates
PDF Printouts Generated off Templates
Templates designed in webpage
User Levels
Supervisor
Report User
Admin
Records
PREA
Case Workflow
Supervisor creates case with case name
Case number automatically generated with customized prefix
Supervisor assigns report users to case
Report users add reports and fill out
Report users submit filled in reports for approval
Supervisors review reports and approve/deny
Once reports are approved, they are locked from edits except from admins
Report Entering
Online web portal to fill out reports
Comments
File uploads
Fill out external PDFs in browser
Easily add, copy, clear, and remove categories
Report users only show reports that need their attention.
PDF Exports
Export report content in template format from webpage
Download zipped file containing all case reports and attached files
Intel Management System (INTEL)
Work with the Gang unit to import Gang database into the (Intel) module and begin to share information with neighboring jurisdictions.
Benefits include:
Improved Data Accuracy: By importing data from the Gang unit into the new INTEL system, the County can ensure that the data is accurate and up-to-date. This can help reduce errors and inconsistencies that can occur when data is manually entered into multiple systems.
Better Coordination: The new INTEL system will help improve coordination between the Gang unit and other law enforcement agencies. By having access to the same data, agencies can work together more efficiently and effectively to combat gang-related crime.
Enhanced Data Analysis: The new INTEL system can provide advanced data analysis capabilities, allowing law enforcement agencies to identify trends and patterns in gang-related activity. This can help inform strategies for prevention and intervention, and lead to more effective use of resources.
Improved Information Sharing: The new INTEL system will provide a secure platform for sharing information between law enforcement agencies. This can help improve communication and collaboration between agencies, leading to more successful investigations and prosecutions.
Cost Savings: By consolidating data into a single INTEL system, law enforcement agencies can reduce costs associated with maintaining multiple systems. This can result in significant cost savings over time.
Provide 24×7 Service and Support
Provide support for a wide range of video surveillance systems and software platforms, including installation and configuration, firmware, and software updates, and troubleshooting for both hardware and software issues. We also offer regular system maintenance to ensure surveillance systems are always functioning optimally.
Lt. Anthony Ponte
Winnebago Co. Sheriff’s Office
P.R.E.A. Coordinator
650 W. State Street
Rockford, IL 61102
Phone: (815) 319-6074
Pontea@wcso-il.uså
Testimonial
We wanted to take a moment to express our sincere appreciation for your outstanding collaboration with the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department. Your partnership has been instrumental in enhancing our operations, and we are truly impressed with the level of professionalism and responsiveness your team has consistently demonstrated.
From the onset of our engagement, your team’s commitment to understanding our unique needs and processes has been commendable. Your willingness to sit down with our team and meticulously whiteboard all of our processes illustrated your genuine dedication to our project’s success. This approach not only fostered a sense of trust but also laid a solid foundation for a productive partnership.
The centerpiece of our collaboration has been the development of a custom report application tailored to our specific requirements. Your team’s technical expertise and attention to detail shone brightly in the final product, which seamlessly connects to our end-of-life product within the jail. The solution you delivered exceeded our expectations and has already proven to be a valuable asset to our operations.
One of the aspects we truly value about your team is your commitment to Agile planning. Throughout the project, we consistently knew what to expect in terms of development progress and the implementation of requested features. Your transparent communication and adherence to Agile principles have made the entire process efficient and productive.
In summary, your team’s responsiveness, professionalism, and dedication have been nothing short of exceptional. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department wholeheartedly recommends your services to anyone seeking a capable and reliable partner for their software development needs. Thank you for your remarkable work, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration in the future.