The Jail Information Model is a process designed to cultivate jail-based information and to disseminate it to the appropriate offices or agencies in order to solve or prevent crimes and improve public safety.

The primary purpose of this model is to collect information regarding internal jail safety and security issues, criminal activity within the jail, and criminal activity outside of the jail. The Jail Information Model (JIM) encourages and promotes a paradigm shift from traditional corrections activities to proactive public safety capabilities. This shift helps to solve current crimes, prevent future crimes or reduce their impact, save lives and property in the jail and community, and improve community quality of life.

In jail facilities where this model or similar models have been institutionalized, officers' lives have been saved, drug distribution networks have been seized, and potential crimes have been stopped. Throughout the country county jails utilizing this model have solved homicides, brought rapists to justice, disbanded theft rings, and arrested serial robbers.

It is the hope of the National Sheriffs' Association that the institutionalization of the Jail Information Model will continue to change the paradigm of the traditional corrections officer while providing valuable information to increase public safety and improve the quality of life in our communities.