Alaska's Program to Improve the Completeness and Accuracy of Criminal History Records

The goal of the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) is to improve the Nation's safety and security by enhancing the quality, completeness, and accessibility of criminal history record information and by insuring the nationwide implementation of criminal justice and noncriminal justice background check systems. BJS provides direct financial and technical assistance to the states to improve criminal history and other related records and to build their infrastructure to connect to national record check systems both to supply information and to conduct the requisite checks.

Under this award, the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) will transfer funds to the Alaska Court System to conduct projects involving the electronic sharing of court dispositions. Funds will also be used for DPS to obtain an independent, third-party analysis of the capabilities and operations of APSIN, the state criminal history repository, and the options to leverage current applications and technologies into the best system; purchase livescan machines in police departments and correctional facilities where the systems are failing to operate and no longer support Windows XP; and replace laptops for DPS staff which are an essential tool used in auditing, reporting, and educating system users and law enforcement officers on the use of criminal history information. These tasks will ensure the availability of complete, accurate, and timely criminal history records information to state and national databases. (CA/NCF)