ViCLAS is a Canada-wide computer system that assists specially trained
investigators to identify serial crimes and criminals by focusing on the
linkages that exist among crimes by the same offender. This system was
developed by the RCMP in the early 1990s.
All police services in Canada contribute to ViCLAS by submitting information
about the violent crime investigations undertaken in their jurisdiction.
However, only trained ViCLAS specialists analyse and interpret the information
in the ViCLAS system to find patterns and linkages in the reports of violent
crime. The ViCLAS specialists are experienced police investigators who
work collaboratively to ensure that their conclusions are reasonable.
Many of the ViCLAS specialists are RCMP members while others work for
provincial and municipal police services.
The National ViCLAS Policy Centre, one of the Behavioural Sciences programs
in the RCMP, establishes and monitors policy, procedures and minimum standards
regarding the submission of information to the ViCLAS database and analysis
of crimes based on linkages from the ViCLAS database. In addition, the
ViCLAS Centre provides strategic direction to ViCLAS operations and conducts
research and development in case linkage systems.
Requesting ViCLAS Services
To request the services of a criminal investigator trained in using ViCLAS
information, Canadian police services can contact the ViCLAS Centre within
their region or province and international police services can contact
Interpol, who will coordinate the request with the ViCLAS National Policy
Centre.
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