Roles and Permissions
Product: Prepared
Audience: Call Takers, Dispatchers, Supervisors, Administrators
Last Updated: 05/01/2026
Outcome
After reading this guide, you will understand how to control user access using roles and permissions, assign roles correctly, and ensure users can access the features they need—without over-permissioning.
Overview
Prepared uses a Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) system.
RBAC determines what users can:
View
Access
Edit
Configure
How It Works
Users are assigned one or more roles
Each role contains a set of permissions
Users inherit permissions from their assigned roles
This allows your agency to control access consistently and securely.
You can find this feature under:
Settings → Roles & Permissions
Understand Roles vs Permissions
Roles = bundles of access
Permissions = specific actions users can take
Example:
A role may allow access to incidents
A permission determines whether the user can view or edit those incidents
Standard Roles
Prepared includes system roles designed for common workflows.
Role | Typical Use |
|---|---|
Dispatch Administrator | Full system access and configuration |
Dispatch Supervisor | Oversight of incidents and analytics |
Dispatcher | Manage incidents and communicate with callers |
Calltaker | Receive calls and create incidents |
Settings Manager | Configure system settings |
Floor Lead | Operational oversight without full admin access |
RTCC Operator | Real-Time Crime Center workflows |
QA User | Quality assurance and evaluations |
Logging Recorder User | Recording review and export |
ANET Operator | Manage ANET workflows |
Field Responder | Access shared incident links |
Radio User | Radio-related workflows |
Permission Categories
Permissions are grouped by function.
Incident Permissions
Control access to incidents and chatrooms.
Permission | What It Allows |
|---|---|
All Incidents Read | View all incidents |
Recent Incidents Read | View recent incidents |
ANET Incidents Read | View ANET incidents |
ANET Incidents Write | Create or edit ANET incidents |
Incidents Write | Interact in incidents |
Owned Incidents Read | View assigned incidents |
INCIDENTS_ASSISTIVE_DISPATCH_READ | Access Assistive Dispatch features |
Assistive Dispatch Access
Assistive Dispatch is controlled through a role-based permission.
Permission: INCIDENTS_ASSISTIVE_DISPATCH_READ
Assigned at the role level only
The following roles include this permission by default:
Dispatcher
Floor Lead
Supervisor
Administrator
RTCC Operator
Radio User
Important: You cannot enable or disable Assistive Dispatch for individual users. Assign a role that includes this permission.
Media Permissions
Permission | What It Allows |
|---|---|
All Media Download | Download all media |
Individual Media Download | Download specific files |
Media Unblur | View unblurred media |
Analytics Permissions
Permission | What It Allows |
|---|---|
Analytics Read | View dashboards |
Analytics Write | Create or edit reports |
Settings Permissions
Control configuration access.
Read = View settings
Write = Modify settings
Examples include:
User management
Workflow settings
Canned messages
Radio settings
Other Permissions
Include:
QA form management
Training content
Logging data access
Assign Roles to Users
Roles are assigned in the Users page.
Go to Settings → Users
Select a user
Assign one or more roles
Save
Multiple Roles
Users can have more than one role.
Permissions are combined across roles.
Example:
Calltaker + Floor Lead = combined access from both
Create Custom Roles
You can create roles specific to your agency.
Steps
Go to Settings → Roles & Permissions
Select Create Role
Enter a name and description
Select permissions
Save
Custom roles apply only to your agency.
Special Role: Field Responder
The Field Responder role allows external users to access incidents via shared links.
They can:
View incident details
Access shared media
Respond through a responder interface
These users do not have access to the full dispatch system.
Best Practices
Assign the minimum access needed
Use roles instead of trying to manage access per user
Review roles regularly
Avoid assigning administrative access unless necessary
Common Scenarios
User Needs Assistive Dispatch Access
Assign one of the following roles:
Dispatcher
Supervisor
Floor Lead
Administrator
User Has Too Much Access
Remove unnecessary roles
Avoid stacking high-permission roles
User Cannot Access a Feature
Check assigned roles
Confirm the role includes the required permission
Do not look for a user-level toggle if the feature is role-based
Support & Additional Resources
If you need help configuring roles or permissions, contact: