Application Development and Systems Integration

​NORC IT produces high quality, processing intensive software designed to improve project efficiency and accuracy while at the same time providing a cost savings benefit.  We have experts on staff in all industry recognized platforms, development environments, and data management systems. 

Software Engineering and Custom Development

NORC has extensive experience designing, developing, managing, and enhancing custom software, including websites that support a wide range of functions and content topics.   Working with a variety of development technologies and platforms, including, but not limited to, Java, .Net, SharePoint, and Python, NORC has authored many technology solutions that support virtual communities, data dissemination portals, public websites, and data collection applications for a wide range of clients.  NORC's custom applications reflect best practices in a number of disciplines, including software and infrastructure engineering, user interface design and usability, and Section 508 compliance. 

Case Management

NORC IT recently released NORCSuite 3, a proprietary Case Management System (CMS) composed of a collection of software applications and databases designed to address distributed and multi-mode data collection projects.  NORCSuite 3 is structured on web-based architecture, similar to many commercial and enterprise oriented applications.  Programmed with Java and enhanced with open-source software, NORCSuite 3 leverages universally available architecture in order to achieve scalability and extensibility.  NORCSuite 3 CMS can integrate with a variety of databases and data collection tools, including custom applications developed on other projects or by research companies.  Its also operates securely from remote locations.

Data Services and Data Management

NORC's Data Services group processes electronic questionnaires fielded in various modes, including web, phone, and in-person then codes, edits, and otherwise prepares the resulting data for delivery.  Using an iterative approach allows NORC to rapidly produce data files that can be reviewed and modified many times before they become final.  It also allows for quick review of data collection progress and identification of instrument or case-level issues.  These capabilities allow timely access to project data, enabling better informed project management decision making.  In addition, the NORC Data Services team possesses a broad array of skills in the area of data preparation, merging, matching, linking, cleaning, and delivery.  The team comprises experts in every major database installation and data manipulation package, including SAS and SPSS.

Representative Projects

Conversion of Criminal History Records into Research Databases (CCHRRD). For years, BJS has used information stored in the nation’s automated criminal history records to assess the officially-recognized, law-violating behavior of various samples of individuals.  To do recidivism studies, BJS has provided state criminal history repositories with identifying information on study subjects and has requested each participating state repository to extract selected information on each subject’s criminal justice activities, thus creating a reporting burden for participating repositories. In addition, the structure and content of the data extracted from these repositories varies from state to state requiring customized software to transform each state’s data into a commonly-formatted, researchable database.  In light of these challenges, only two national recidivism studies of released prisoners have been performed by BJS to date; the first in 1983 and the latest in 1994.  More