Integrated criminal justice: ARJIS case study

In this paper we provide project highlights of our ongoing case study of am integrated criminal justice system (San Diego, California's Automated Regional Justice Information System or ARJIS). We develop this case to be used in a comparative analysis of other, similar, systems. Our focus is on better understanding and theorizing on complex web of relationships among work, the structure and governance of social institutions, and technological architectures. Our intent is to further principles of socio-technical design regarding computerization (an aspect of social informatics). Our work to date leads us to a set of concepts we are calling organic development. Organic development reflects a strategic use of top-down and bottom-up design principles, demands strategic leadership, and open design principles.