In 1992, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office was still storing and distributing information as it had for the past half century -- i.e., via personal memory, word of mouth, telephone and paper files. While these tried-and-true methods were reliable and robust, they were not keeping up with the expectations of our increasingly dynamic regional economy, with the many social changes taking place in Essex County, and with the opportunities for increased efficiency and effectiveness that information technology was already providing. There were only five computer terminals in the entire Office. However, the various Prosecutors since that time have recognized the opportunities being missed and have committed the Office to joining the computer and communications technology revolution.

Therefore, within the past decade, the Essex Prosecutor's Office has experienced in compressed fashion all three phases of computer systems development that have occurred since the 1960s. The first phase involved a centralized system based around an AS/400 mini-mainframe computer, an efficient but inflexible system used for a limited number of organizational applications. Following soon thereafter, the Office came to exploit the versatility of the desktop microcomputer, assigning hundreds of stand-alone PC systems to personnel throughout the organization. Within the past three years, the Essex County Prosecutor's Office committed itself to the current phase of information technology architecture, i.e. to linking desktop PCs and other peripheral devices (such as copying machines) together via a unified client-server network. This gains the efficiency that mainframes introduced while preserving the flexibility that PCs brought.

Over $1.6 million has been spent since year 2000 to purchase servers, routers and other connection equipment, advanced software, training, additional desktop PCs and peripheral equipment (scanners, printers, etc.), and wiring to every corner of the Office. At the same time, the Office committed itself to user training and changes in business methods that will eventually realize the "almost paperless" office of the 21st Century. By 2001, most employees had access to network data folders, and in 2002 e-mail and Internet access was phased in. The use of scanners for digitalized document storage and e-forms for routine transactions was also implemented, and advanced graphics and printing capacity were utilized for case investigation and analysis (e.g., maps of crime scenes, high-resolution digitalized photos of suspects and evidence, etc.). Over the next few years, the Office expects to reap large benefits through improved employee productivity and increased effectiveness. This effort will also help the Office to better communicate with the community that it serves, e.g. via this web site.

The Essex County Prosecutor's Office Information Technology Section is currently staffed by a director, two network administrators, a programmer analyst, four help desk specialists, and two office automation specialists / trainers. Although the hardware installation phase of the current client-server system is now in place, many challenges remain for the Information Technology Section. These include the employee training efforts and business method changes necessary to fully exploit these new communication tools. The Section is also committed to continual system maintenance and physical upgrading, so that the Essex County Prosecutor's Office will stay up-to-date with technology. Finally, the Section works closely with the Executive Assistant Prosecutor and the web site coordinator to provide hosting and technical support for this web site.