Mobile Digital Access to Offender Data and Resources Assists Patrol Officers and Provides Alternatives to Incarceration (2019)

Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office (Long Beach, CA)

Population: 462,628 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 17 | Contact Information

To address chronic problems related to mental health, homelessness, and recidivism, the Long Beach City Prosecutor’s Office partnered with Laserfiche, a private company, to develop an app that law enforcement officers can use on patrol to access critical information such as warrants, stay away court orders, probation, or parole or diversion status.

Known as the Government User Integrated Diversion Enhancement System (GUIDES), the app also allows patrol officers to use their government-issued cell phones to find resources for individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, or substance use disorders. The app is intended for real-time data sharing among city departments and can help police respond to what they encounter on patrol by enforcing stay away orders or providing social services in lieu of arrest when warranted.