Final answer:
The Computerized Criminal History (CCH) file stores an individual's criminal history, including arrest records and convictions, akin to how a digital device stores data magnetically for quick retrieval. It's used by law enforcement and entities conducting background checks, showcasing the significance of computers in managing crucial information systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Computerized Criminal History (CCH) file is a database that stores detailed records of an individual's criminal history. This can include arrest records, charges, convictions, and sentencing information from federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. It is used by various entities, such as law enforcement, employers conducting background checks, and government agencies.
Analogous to how a computer program combined with input history can predict what the computer will do next, the CCH file represents a compilation of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, which can be used to make informed decisions about that individual's propensity for future actions.
In the digital world, the capacity to store vast amounts of information is echoed in the concept of magnetic encoding, as mentioned in Figure 12.1 with external hard drives. Similar to these storage devices, the CCH file acts as a repository, ensuring accurate and quick retrieval of criminal history when required.