Missouri NICS Record Improvement Program

The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, Pub. L. 110-180 ("NICS Improvement Act"), was signed into law by the President on January 8, 2008. The NICS Improvement Act amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 ("the Brady Act") (Pub. L. 103-159), under which the Attorney General established the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The Brady Act requires Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to contact the NICS before transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person for information on whether the proposed transferee is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm under state or federal law. The NICS Improvement Act authorizes grants to be made in a manner consistent with the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP).

Under the 2015 NARIP priority areas, the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), Office of the State Court Administrator (OSCA), and the Missouri Office of Prosecution Services (MOPS) will collaborate on four projects to increase the timeliness and completeness of Missouri’s NICS related records.

The first project involves OSCA’s conversion of the Justice Information System (JIS) from Oracle to Java. Missouri courts currently use the (JIS) case management system to initiate and dispose of criminal and probate cases. This information is important in the reporting of information to the NICS Index. JIS is currently running on old technologies. In order to keep JIS running for the next several years a new case management system is being developed and converted from Oracle to Java. Prior NARIP funding has started the conversion of JIS from Oracle to Java. Additional funding is needed to complete the conversion. The primary piece of the conversion requiring completion is the mental health reporting component.

The second project includes MOPS hiring a Technology Automation Resource Prosecutor (TARP) to work collectively with OSCA and MSHP to coordinate and improve statewide prosecutor automation process. The TARP will oversee the installation and maintenance of the automated Case Management System in prosecutors’ offices, and serve as a resource and trainer for prosecutors and staff relating to technology and automation. The overall process will enhance the accuracy and completeness of the data transfer relating to criminal history reporting from prosecuting attorney’s offices throughout OSCA and the central repository.

The third project involves MOPS to build an in-house Missouri specific case management system. The current off-the-shelf vendor solution is inefficient and ineffective. An in-house system will be designed to allow for greater flexibility, control and efficiency. MOPS will hire two contactors to develop an in-house MO specific case management system. The two individuals will work independently and in coordination with OSCA IT staff and MSHP IT staff to coordinate the accuracy and completeness of the data transfer relating to criminal history reporting from the prosecutors’ offices throughout OSCA and the central repository.

The last project is the purchase and installment of 17 Livescan devices throughout the state. MSHP worked with the MO Police Chief’s Association and MO Sheriff’s Association to determine the location of each Livescan device. Jurisdictions are prioritized based on the estimated number of arrest fingerprints that would be collected, the number of agencies able to use the device at the selected location, and the ability of each agency to maintain the device after installment.

CA/NCF