Quick Reference User Guide Appalachia HIDTA 400 Suth Main Street, 3 rd Flr Lndn, KY 40741 606-877-2100 (Main) 606-877-2133 (Intelligence Supprt Center) Revised: 4.14.15
I/A Kari Sams 606-877-2138 samsk@ahidta.rg I/A Rachel Benge 606-877-2134 benger@ahidta.rg I/A James Mullins 606-877-2139 mullins@ahidta.rg https://secure.hidta.rg After securely lgging int the Washingtn/Baltimre HIDTA Secure Access VPN (SSL), please chse CASE EXPLORER t lgin with yur individual CE credentials. These credentials were created by yu, the user, at the end f yur training sessin, r as instructed by Appalachia HIDTA staff. Please ensure that yur backgrund is a blue/grey, nt a marn/red clr. The live, prductin website will have a blue/grey backgrund arund the lgin screen. Case Explrer User Guide Page 2
Case Explrer is a web-based law enfrcement sftware prgram. Its functinality is fcused twards infrmatin sharing amng different agencies in the law enfrcement and intelligence cmmunity. Agents and fficers can use the case management aspect as a tactical tl fr case and subject decnflictin. Case Explrer als ffers a critical fficer safety cmpnent where plice, watch centers, r ther law enfrcement agencies can enter vital infrmatin abut their peratin and cmplete event decnflictin. Law enfrcement fficers will receive immediate feedback abut any ptential cnflicts with ther planned event peratins in their gegraphic prximity. Case Management: Manages case infrmatin abut peple, places, things, vehicles, weapns and drugs. Each case has an unlimited number f file attachments such as dcuments, pictures, audi and vide files. Case Decnflictin: Match data between rganizatins allwing interagency decnflictin while maintaining cntrl f lcal data. Case Explrer als interfaces with Natinal Virtual Pinter System (NVPS). After submitting an entity int the system, Case Explrer searches the entire database fr a psitive match based n certain criteria entered. If a match is fund, the user will receive pinter infrmatin t cntact the ther party invlved and share relevant case infrmatin Event Decnflictin: This fficer safety cmpnent plts events gespatially ntifying the user f any cnflicts within yur defined radius. The user is able t submit infrmatin abut planned events including, but nt limited t surveillance ptins, buy bust peratins r the executin f search and seizure warrants. Case Explrer will alert anyne invlved f pssible peratinal cnflicts with ther knwn high risk events that exist within a certain gegraphic prximity. The Web interface eases the management f case data. There is als an ptinal interface int HIDTA Perfrmance Management Prcess (PMP). Spatial awareness feature maps addresses assciated with any case r event. Built-in case reprt can be exprted in PDF. Cpy entities between cases. Relate Cases, Grups r Events t each ther. Use the YOUR PROFILE link n the Main Page t check yur accunt infrmatin and make any changes r updates. Remember that the crrect cntact infrmatin (address, email, and phne/cell numbers) is very imprtant. Email is required t use NVPS (Natinal Virtual Pinter System) Services. Please use this if yur cntact infrmatin changes at any time. Case Explrer User Guide Page 3
The MAIN PAGE (hme screen) will have the fllwing items t review. NVPS Matches Target Matches Event Cnflicts Yur Prfile Infrmatin Classic Data Entry Yur Recent Cases As yu wrk within the system, case related data will ppulate these fields. Yu can view the data yu, yurself have entered, r select Agency items t view data related t yur agency and/r task frce. 1) Select the Data Entry sectin, n the left-hand side f yur main page, t reveal new Event. 2) Use the ptin t expand all the fields describing the event. Or yu may expand ne sectin at a time fr event entry. The required fields are marked by a red asterisk (*). Event Number Case/Item number r unique agency event number, which yu assign t yur event. Event Type Surveillance, arrest, search warrant, drug buy/sell, etc Date/Time Click the calendar buttn next t the Date t select frm a calendar. Time is recrded as military standard (00 hurs thrugh 23 hurs.) The Start Date/Time and End Date/Time is a time range yu determine it will take t carry ut yur particular peratin. Search Radius The search radius the system checks against fr ptential cnflicts. The system allws fr a radius f 2 feet t 2 miles. Yur radius can nt exceed thse limitatins. Case Explrer User Guide Page 4
3) Cmplete the fields describing the lcatin f yur event, by expanding the EVENT LOCATION sectin. Street Number, Name, Type, Directin, etc., are lcated n separate individual lines After all lcatin details are entered, GEOCODE yur lcatin. When the event decnflictin fields are cmplete, and yu have gecded yur address, the system will display the results f yur search. If mre than ne address is listed and displayed n the map, chse the address lcatin clsest t yur event lcatin. Click the apprpriate address buttn t select the lcatin f yur event. Address Hints If the Gecde Addresses list is blank, try making changes t yur search. Remve any perids r cmas frm the address (490 N Elm St). Check the spelling f the address. Try remving the Dr, St, Ave r Blvd frm the search. Try spelling-ut sme wrds. (St Charles; Saint Charles) Try cmbining tw-wrd names. (La Place; Laplace) If the address is still nt fund r if the lcatin desn t have an address, such as an Interstate lcatin, yu can use the Pick feature t manually identify the lcatin f the event. Exit ut f the Gecde Addresses windw if it is still pen. Once yu have selected yur lcatin fr yur event, the screen reppulates with a n the map (indicated by the green circle belw n the image), as well as yur address listed under The Currently Selected Pint is: Case Explrer User Guide Page 5
A lcatin must be selected befre submitting an event. If yu are satisfied with the lcatin yu have chsen, select the buttn t verify yur lcatin. Yu can use the functin t zm in t yur selected lcatin/pint, r yu can d s by simply duble-clicking n the map. Yu may manually pick yur lcatin, r select a pint n the map by zming t a pint, and then utilizing the feature under MAPS & UTILITIES lcated just abve the map itself. Submitting the Event After the lcatin is verified, yu must Submit the Event t enter it in the system. The details f the event, alng with a unique case explrer number, are displayed n the fllwing screen. This is ne f the numbers by which events are identified in cnflict reprts. Yur EVENT ID number, which is generated when yu pen yur EVENT identifies yur event by a unique, 4-digit, alphanumeric cde. Yu may print this page fr yur recrds r case file, by selecting the REPORT buttn in the upper prtin f yur summary screen. NOTE: All address infrmatin entered int Case Explrer, as an event, will als be stred as a target lcatin. Event Cnflict Ntificatin If the event is in cnflict with anther scheduled event, several methds f ntificatin are available: 1. A warning message in a red cnflict bx will appear alng the tp f the screen (see image). 2. An email is sent t bth Event agencies assciated with the events in cnflict. In the event f a cnflict, by clicking n the red cnflict buttn, yu will be brught t yur cnflict reslutin page, where yu must enter the infrmatin related t the cnflict s validity, as well as the CONFLICT CODE t reslve that particular cnflict. The CONFLICT CODE is btained frm the persn r persns yu are cnflicting with, and is directly related t the unique identifying EVENT CODE that is generated at the nset f entering the event. Case Explrer User Guide Page 6
The system, by default, will disable yu, as a user, frm creating anther event, until yu have reslved any pending cnflicts. Listed under Case Explrer Cntact will be any and all necessary infrmatin needed t cntact the case agent/fficer, in the event f a cnflict. Yu may als click the Cntact Inf bx fr full cntact infrmatin. Case Explrer is capable f identifying similar targets f interest and reprting matches with ther agencies. It wrks as a pinter system that will nt reveal any f yur case infrmatin. It prvides nly cntact infrmatin where the data is lcated, and the case agent/fficer wh als entered the matching data. Entering Targets in the Case Explrer Database Targets f investigatins can be entered int Case Explrer and maintained, by creating a new CASE. This can be dne by clicking CASE in the Data Entry sectin n yur hme screen. T begin entering target data, yu must first cmplete all infrmatin related t yur case, with the Case Infrmatin sectin. Items marked in BOLD print are mandatry fields. Case Number and Date Opened are required t place entity/target data int Case Explrer. Once this infrmatin is ppulated, yu can then Submit yur case, t enter target data. Target Types Yu may enter data related t entities/targets in the fllwing areas: Peple Places Things Vehicles Weapns Drugs Case Explrer User Guide Page 7
Case Explrer will check the database fr any existing r matching data in all these categries, except the field f Drugs. Yu can add data t these fields by simply clicking the Add hyperlink beside the entity in which yu wish t enter data fr. Enter any and all related Target infrmatin and hit Submit t save the Target in the database. The Target will be active in the system indefinitely. NOTE: Fr persn entries, the system nw defaults t SEND TO NVPS ON SUBMIT when submitting yur target. This will allw fr the target data t be checked against all ther decnflictin systems tied int NVPS. Yu must manually uncheck if yu d nt want this peratin t ccur. (Fr mre infrmatin n NVPS, see page 10). Targets can be updated r mdified as yu gain mre infrmatin. Target Matches If a match exists n the data yu enter int Case Explrer, yu will be ntified immediately (see image). By clicking n the buttn, any match related t the data (i.e., persn, address, vehicle, etc.) yu entered int the system will be displayed, alng with the cntact infmratin f the case agent/fficer wh has like data inside the system. Yu may establish if this is a valid r invalid match and mark the data as such by clicking the apprpriate selectin. Case Explrer User Guide Page 8
Reprts The Reprts sectin n the Case Explrer Hme Screen allws yu t search all f the events and/r cases that have been entered by either yurself r yur agency. Yu may cater this query/reprt t the specific type f infrmatin yu are seeking, based n date range, event type, case agent/fficer, etc. These reprts can then be exprted t a Micrsft Excel frmat fr srting/filtering and easy printing. Yu may als query reprts n any data (i.e., peple, places, things, weapns, vehicles) within the Case Explrer system by chsing any f the ptins frm the DATA EXPORTING sectin under Reprts. Case Explrer User Guide Page 9
1) Case Explrer prvides the ability t enter data related t any type f Parcel Interdictin effrts. When selecting a new CASE (frm the Data Entry sectin), yu will have the pprtunity t mark yur case as being parcel interdictin, under the Case Management & Histry sectin f the screen. (see image belw) After checking the parcel interdictin case bx, and entering all necessary case infrmatin, upn submissin, yu will have the ptin f selecting PARCEL frm yur case ptins. 2) By selecting users are given fields t ppulate, slely related t items received thrugh interdictin effrts. These items include: Package Details (Drug Type, Weight, Units, Currency, Carrier, Tracking Numbers, Delivery Type, etc.) Address f Origin Details Address f Destinatin Details Case Explrer User Guide Page 10
Natinal Virtual Pinter System (NVPS) Only fr Persn Target Entries At the bttm f the Persn Target entry screen, a check bx is labeled Send NVPS On Submit. When this bx is checked, a query is sent thrugh the NVPS. The query cmpares the data fr yur persn target fr similar data in ther natinal decnflictin systems. If a similar target is fund, yu will receive cnfirmatin f the match and will be prvided with the cntact infrmatin fr the ther agency and case fficer in that rganizatin. What is NVPS? The Natinal Virtual Pinter System (NVPS) is a jint initiative f HIDTA, Reginal Infrmatin Sharing System (RISS) and Drug Enfrcement Administratin (DEA). The NVPS will link the Appalachia HIDTA decnflictin effrts with the DEA s Natinal Drug Pinter Index (NDPIX), ther HIDTA decnflictin systems, Suth Flrida s HIDTA Intranet Base Infrmatin System (HIBIS), the RISSafe netwrk and ther infrmatin systems. This allws federal, state, lcal and tribal law enfrcement agencies access t pinter databases thrugh a single pint f entry. Thrugh NVPS, participating agencies will be able t determine if any ther law enfrcement entity is fcused n the same investigative target regardless f the crime NVPS addresses the need fr natinal infrmatin sharing and cmmunicatin within the law enfrcement cmmunity. With a single entry frm HIDTA, DEA r RISS, the target is cmpared with all participating pinter decnflictin databases. NVPS will nt be limited t narctics investigatins and will include data n all crimes. A single entry will simultaneusly access target decnflictin databases and will result in a natinwide target decnflictin slutin. NVPS is a seamless integratin with Case Explrer and desn t require any additinal data entries. When an agent enters a Persn Target, they are given the ptin t send t NVPS n Submit via a check bx. As the system queries the varius databases, the user will be ntified f the pint-f-cntact where the similar targets are lcated, if there is a hit in the system. This prvides a ne-entry / multiple-result system via autmated ntificatins. Please Nte: It is required that Case Explrer users have a valid email address t be able t receive result ntificatins frm Case Explrer, and NVPS. Case Explrer User Guide Page 11