Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Upon successful completion students should be able to:

• Format inquiries using the LEDS Operating Manual.
• Format and code information based upon NCIC codes and abbreviations.
• Access a variety of computer test files, simulating warrants, missing person reports, stolen vehicles, guns, articles and more.
• Use Administrative Messages to contact law enforcement agencies both local and national.
• Receive state certification valid for up to two years.

This course includes lecture and discussion on the use of the LEDS operating manual and the NCIC code book to access, identify, and interpret law enforcement and court records.

Use of the LEDS and NCIC resource manuals to appropriately code and format computer inquiries and access records.  Instructors will work one on one with students to access computerized test records and to interpret system messages and records data.  To obtain state certification at the inquiry level, students must complete an open book exercise with 100% accuracy.  Students must also document all practical exercises in the training guide under the supervision of a state certified LEDS representative.

• Quizzes, multiple choice exams, and class exercises using the operating manual to locate information.
• Creating various types of computer messages, inter-agency communications, area and national broadcasts.
• Creating computer inquiries for specific types of information, using pre-determined formats and coding.

• Develop a working knowledge of the layout, organization and function of the LEDS operating manual and the NCIC code manual.
• Apply the appropriate codes and abbreviations to access information
• Interpret coded information using various resource books.
• Enter correct formats and codes into data fields, utilizing keyboarding skills
• Sort and organize data to match to file records.
• Read and interpret computerized responses.

Subject Matter, Concepts, Themes, and Issues:

·       NCIC and LEDS approved abbreviations

·       Military Time

·       Application of criteria to specific data entries

·       Sorting and matching similar data to identify specific records

·       Confidentiality of information

·       Privacy rights when disseminating information

·       Legal responsibilities and liabilities

·       Laws regarding access to information

 
Instructor Qualifications:

Instructor must be LEDS certified by the State of Oregon at both the Inquiry and Entry levels, and must be or work under the supervision of a currently certified LEDS representative.