The Challenge
San Mateo County’s Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) was built on aging technologies that could no longer support the growing needs of courts, law enforcement, corrections, and prosecutors. Processes relied heavily on legacy middleware and green-screen applications that were costly to maintain and difficult to integrate.
The lack of a unified person record, fragmented search capabilities, and limited data exchange between partners created silos that slowed justice operations, reduced accuracy, and impacted public safety.
The Solution
Quartech Justice, building on work previously delivered through Sierra-Cedar and Sierra Systems, partnered with San Mateo County to modernize its integrated justice environment. The project included implementation of webMethods middleware to connect disparate systems, along with Applinx to modernize legacy mainframe applications into web-based services.
A Master Person Index (MPI) was deployed to unify identity management across agencies, supported by a Federated Search Portal that allowed authorized users to query multiple justice systems through a single interface. Beyond technology delivery, Quartech provided project governance, change management, and broader consulting services to ensure seamless adoption across stakeholders.
Key features included:
- webMethods Integration Layer to enable secure, standards-based data exchanges.
- Applinx Modernization to transform legacy applications into web-enabled services.
- Master Person Index (MPI) for a single, authoritative source of person data.
- Federated Search Portal giving justice partners unified access to records across multiple systems.
- Comprehensive Project Services including governance, training, and change management.
The Results
The solution delivered measurable improvements:
Stronger Interoperability
Agencies could securely share data in real time across the justice ecosystem.
Improved Accuracy
MPI reduced duplication and ensured consistent person records across systems.
Faster Access to Information
Federated search eliminated the need to log into multiple systems, saving time and reducing errors.
Modernized Legacy Systems
Applinx and webMethods extended the value of existing applications while preparing for future upgrades.
Sustainable Implementation
Governance and training ensured agencies could manage and evolve the system post go-live.
Why It Matters
San Mateo County’s integrated justice modernization provided a secure, scalable framework that improved efficiency, data quality, and collaboration across justice partners. By leveraging modern integration tools, federated search, and a Master Person Index, the County built a foundation for long-term interoperability and enhanced public safety outcomes.
