County software draws raves, but bugs need fixing
By KEVIN P. CRAVER - kcraver@nwherald.com
McHenry County is eyeing the next phase of implementing its new criminal justice software.
Just as soon as the authors of the tailor-made software, Schaumburg-based Integrated Software Specialists, work out the bugs.
The Integrated Criminal Justice Information System went live in May in the Circuit Clerk’s Office, the first tangible milestone in a project marred by delays and cost overruns. Circuit Clerk Katherine Keefe said her employees loved the system, but like any new software, bugs were found along the way.
The new software replaces Sustain, a program used by the office since 1990 that was last updated a decade ago to make it Y2K compliant.
“It’s nothing major, just a lot of small, irritating things, but they’re dealing with them very quickly, and hopefully will be wrapped up in the next few weeks,” Keefe said.
The project, when completed, will link the databases among the circuit clerk, court services, state’s attorney and public defender. But the McHenry County Board Law and Justice Committee wants all the kinks worked out before moving on to the next phase of installing the software in the court services department.
“The county’s position is that we don’t want to go forward with any more until this system works perfectly,” said committee member Randy Donley, R-Union.
County officials originally budgeted $3 million for the project with a target completion date of late 2008. But the project likely won’t be finished before the end of 2009, and at a cost that could end up more than double what was expected.
The $3 million became $3.5 million, and ISS then needed another $350,000 to finish installing it in circuit clerk computers. The County Board in April approved the expense, and also approved paying $70,000 to train staff and $240,000 a year for up to six years for support and maintenance.
ISS has not approached the County Board with a cost to install the software in the remaining offices, County Administrator Peter Austin said.
Officials are hopeful that they can negotiate a licensing deal with ISS that would allow the county to recoup its investment if the software is marketed and sold to other governments.
