A former Allegheny County court employee suspected of improperly using a law enforcement database could face criminal charges, District Attorney Stephen A. Zappala Jr. said yesterday.

"She's being investigated criminally," Mr. Zappala said of Nia D. Calvert. "The more they look, the more issues come up."

The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office is conducting the investigation of Ms. Calvert, 31, of Wilkinsburg and her use of the Pennsylvania Justice Network, or JNET.

Ms. Calvert was suspended without pay April 28 from her position as a pool tipstaff at the Allegheny County Courthouse. She resigned two days later.

Ms. Calvert had authorized access to JNET and was supposed to use it for tasks such as entering sentencing information about defendants on behalf of judges.

However, investigators believe Ms. Calvert might have used the database inappropriately, including whether Ms. Calvert looked up the names of witnesses in certain criminal cases or running the names of former classmates from Fox Chapel Area High School through the database.

Such use is forbidden and could result in criminal charges.

JNET contains a wide array of data, including mug shots, driver's license information, juvenile records and adult criminal history.

"I have access to JNET. All of us have access to JNET. But when they give you the training they make it clear you are never to use it for anything but court business," said Helen Lynch, the criminal court administrator.

Investigators have also been looking into the circumstances surrounding Ms. Calvert informing a man named Keena Stanton that there was a bench warrant for him.

Mr. Stanton, 23, of Homewood, is facing several trials on a variety of charges including burglary, terroristic threats, and simple assault. A bench warrant was issued for him March 20 for violating his bond in one of the cases.

Ms. Lynch confirmed that Ms. Calvert saw a warrant for someone she knew in the courthouse's administrative office on the fifth floor and then asked a co-worker whether it would be all right to let him know.

The co-worker, who was not a supervisor, said yes, and Ms. Calvert did so, according to Ms. Lynch.

Mr. Stanton was arrested March 21 and is in the Allegheny County Jail with his bond revoked.

Ms. Calvert was initially suspended with pay for one day. But Ms. Lynch said she reinstated her after hearing Ms. Calvert's story because it was not against policy at the time to inform people of a bench or arrest warrant.

"We used to just give that information out to anybody who called," Ms. Lynch said.

Following that incident, though, criminal division Administrative Judge Jeffrey A. Manning issued an order April 2 prohibiting criminal division courthouse employees from disclosing any information about bench or arrest warrants.

Instead, they are ordered to direct requests to the sheriff's office or other law enforcement agencies.

"The court became concerned that information about the issuance, receipt or filing of bench warrants was being disseminated outside of proper channels. This disclosure might result in risk to law enforcement officers executing court orders," Judge Manning said.

Ms. Calvert could not be reached for comment. Her attorney recently said he would have no comment unless criminal charges are filed against his client. He did not return several calls yesterday.

Ms. Lynch said she was taken aback by the allegations.

"I had a good relationship with Ms. Calvert. I hate to see things like this happen. I was shocked. I was completely surprised. Disappointed."

Ms. Calvert began work in the courthouse in November 2004 and was being paid an annual salary of nearly $35,000.

The sheriff's office investigation is complex and involves tracing the history of Ms. Calvert's use of JNET. Users leave behind unique electronic trails. Any information Ms. Calvert sought about individuals must be cross-referenced with the judge for whom she was working at the time so investigators can determine if the use was legitimate.

There are more than 34,000 registered users in Pennsylvania, including 4,600 people in Allegheny County. Of those, 644 authorized users are in the county court system. JNET is administered by the state Office for Information Technology.

All criminal division roaming tipstaffs have access to JNET. They are authorized to use it to perform a variety of tasks, such as looking up a criminal record upon request by the judge they are serving.

All employees who have access to JNET undergo background checks and training about permitted uses. They must sign an agreement indicating they understand and will abide by the rules and regulations governing the system.

Users must pledge to use JNET for "official purposes" only and to not disseminate information outside their own agency.