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Anyone know where to find a FREE criminal database?

by Sumit Menon
7 replies
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I'm considering a switch to the darker side and want to build up some contacts (especially in the narcotic and the human trafficking industry).

Okay, I'm kidding...

We have to make this project on databases (as in database management system and not a real database of people). So, everyone had to pick a topic and we picked Criminal Database because I'm sure our local police doesn't have one. So, I wanted to go through the fields that a criminal database contains.

Or better yet, is there any ex-cop WFer who could help me out?

Thanks,
Sumit.
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    They probably work like a mortgage database I once made did. If they have ANY standard detail fields, it is probably only a FEW and, outside of ID info, and last location, it probably tells general metrics like number of arrests and felony convictions.

    The rest would be hung off of related tables like acquaintences, family, queries, arrests, convictions, etc...

    FORGET looking at free databases. They may bear NO similarity to the actual data. Besides, if you don't figure this out YOURSELF, what good is it?

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author Sumit Menon
      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      FORGET looking at free databases. They may bear NO similarity to the actual data. Besides, if you don't figure this out YOURSELF, what good is it?

      Steve
      Oh yeah.. I forgot to mention in the OP. The project is not about databases of criminals. It's on GUI and DBMS. To teach us how to build a GUI using VB6 and connect it to Oracle.

      Sumit.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Sumit Menon View Post

        Oh yeah.. I forgot to mention in the OP. The project is not about databases of criminals. It's on GUI and DBMS. To teach us how to build a GUI using VB6 and connect it to Oracle.

        Sumit.
        Yeah, I kind of figured that. The GUI is often designed around the database. And databases are generally NOT made to handle arrays of data and anything using such a feature won't be standard, so they are generally handled by other tables. That is better anyway since, in theory, it allows an infinite number of values, and easily connects associated information. And such values are often handled on other screens and/or in a grid type entry field.

        So once you have the database defined, the gui often becomes a snap.

        Steve
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        • Profile picture of the author Sumit Menon
          Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

          Yeah, I kind of figured that. The GUI is often designed around the database. And databases are generally NOT made to handle arrays of data and anything using such a feature won't be standard, so they are generally handled by other tables. That is better anyway since, in theory, it allows an infinite number of values, and easily connects associated information. And such values are often handled on other screens and/or in a grid type entry field.

          So once you have the database defined, the gui often becomes a snap.

          Steve
          It's only been a week since the college started and we haven't really gotten very far yet. But, I do know the basics of working with MySQL. I hope working with Oracle is kinda similar.

          And to answer your previous question on what good it would be, there is no client I could speak to for project specifications. So, I'm left with doing my own background research. And I don't want to submit a half-assed project even if no one is going to use it.

          And yeah, I found more than what was required.

          So, yeah. Thanks.

          Sumit.
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          • Profile picture of the author seasoned
            Originally Posted by Sumit Menon View Post

            It's only been a week since the college started and we haven't really gotten very far yet. But, I do know the basics of working with MySQL. I hope working with Oracle is kinda similar.

            And to answer your previous question on what good it would be, there is no client I could speak to for project specifications. So, I'm left with doing my own background research. And I don't want to submit a half-assed project even if no one is going to use it.

            And yeah, I found more than what was required.

            So, yeah. Thanks.

            Sumit.
            Well, it is good they are covering oracle. I can always tell an AMATEUR because they will, for example, talk to me about using a SEQUENCE object in PL SQL to update a M/S SQL server table. THREE problems!

            1. PL SQL is ORACLE SPECIFIC!
            2. MS SQL doesn't have a sequence object.
            3. MS SQL has an identity attribute that is better.

            As long as you learn SQL 1984(IIRC), you can write VERY compatible code. IT works almost EVERYWHERE, in SQL databases! MOST databases are starting to support 1999 which is a superset of 1984. So THAT is nice. 1984, for example, didn't support outer joins, so ORACLE and SYBASE(which is what M/S SQL is based on) came up with their OWN way. They are VERY similar, but incompatible. 1999 supports outer joins, and they work in the latest versions of oracle, sybase, M/S SQL, DB2, teradata, and even MYSQL!

            So yeah, oracle is similar. The core language may seem IDENTICAL. PL SQL Stored procedures, special objects, hints, etc... are ORACLE SPECIFIC. With Sybase and M/S sql, there stored procedure language is SIMILAR to one another, but not fully compatible, DON'T ASK ME WHY! But they aren't even similar to oracles. They may have special quoting, and the identity attribute isn't that common.

            Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Bonham
    While not free one of the best resources period when it comes to public record information is going to be publicdata.com. It covers criminal, civil, licenses etc etc etc and Is pretty consistant with data from state to state.

    Alternatively the majority of major cities will have Criminal Databases accessible, example Harris County which is houston's is here hcdistrictclerk.com/edocs/public/search.aspx

    Hope this helps some...
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  • Profile picture of the author mojojuju
    Why not treat yourself to a Texas sex offender database?

    https://records.txdps.state.tx.us/Dp...icSite/Export/
    Signature

    :)

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