The task of tracking suspected criminals who may have been arrested has now been made easier with a new product launch from Appriss. The Kentucky-based technology company has announced the rollout of DataBridge, an XML interface that allows law enforcement agencies to query, watch, and extract national booking data for a variety of needs.

DataBridge's query functionality, allows users to access OffenderNet, the nationwide jail database that contains more than 1,600 booking facilities and 17 departments of correction in 31 states. OffenderNet contains more than 40 million booking records and six million booking photos. State or agency officials can directly query this data source and display the information on an existing application.

"DataBridge's watch functionality allows law enforcement agencies to subscribe lists against the national database and be alerted when an individual on the list is booked into jail," said Brian Oldham, Appriss vice president of Information Services. "Notifications can be sent via e-mail or in a daily file."

DataBridge can deliver a complete copy of the national booking database for use in an analytical application, to help with statistical reporting and more.

"Criminal justice agencies have found a number of uses for Databridge," said Oldham. "Some agencies have been able to reduce their absconder population. Others can track sex offenders on a daily basis. It has proven to be an effective tool that gets results and saves valuable work hours."

DataBridge is currently being used by criminal justice agencies in Utah, Iowa, Maryland, and Arkansas, as well as the Florida Supreme Court, Florida Department of Corrections, and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.