As technology within computer science continues to grow and expand within our modern culture, so does its effects on academic disciplines ranging from biology to journalism. Specifically pertaining to journalism, computer science has profoundly affected the way journalists and investigators peform their analytical duties with the advent of Computer Aided Reporting or CAR.

Computer Aided Reporting (CAR) is characterized by the use of computing technologies such as database systems, statistical programs, and geographic information systems as tools to more effectively analyze and investigate journalistic endeavors. Often, the tools of CAR help to simplify investigatory processes while providing more functionality than traditional investigation methods.
This research project will focus on developing a CAR tool to manage, track, and produce queries about sets of data containing various crime statistics. Such data is being analyzed as an investigatory effort to uncover possible inadequacies within our justice systems.

The system will be implemented via a database application to overcome the limitations of a file-based approach such as Microsoft Excel. The database approach is vastly more robust than a file based implementation, encompassing improved data integrity, improved security, data consistency, and greater accesibility.