In a recent government meeting, officials discussed significant challenges facing the state's offender management software, OTrac, which has been criticized for its outdated technology and inefficiencies. The legislative deputy auditor general, Brian Dean, and his team presented findings from a 2022 audit that highlighted numerous issues impacting public safety and the effectiveness of adult probation and parole (AP&P) agents.

The audit revealed that OTrac, originally developed in 1990, suffers from reliability issues, slow response times, and frequent system downtimes. Agents reported spending excessive time looking up offender statuses due to incomplete data sharing with the courts, leading to potential oversights in managing offenders. The system's inefficiencies were underscored by anecdotes from agents, including one instance where an agent mistakenly apprehended an offender who had already been released.

Dean emphasized the need for a technology overhaul, noting that many agents described the system as \"like molasses in winter.\" The audit also pointed out the cumbersome nature of data entry, with agents often required to duplicate efforts across different sections of the system, leading to errors and missed updates.

In response to the audit, the Department of Corrections is prioritizing a strategic business plan for a new information system and has begun migrating to a cloud-hosted solution, expected to be completed by early 2026. Director Ryan Day highlighted ongoing efforts to improve system performance and usability, including working with a third-party vendor to enhance supervisory tracking capabilities.

The meeting concluded with a commitment from officials to continue addressing the audit's recommendations and to improve the integration of data across various public safety entities. The collaborative efforts aim to enhance the efficiency of the state's criminal justice system and ultimately improve public safety outcomes.