Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2016, $527,810)
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 Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Criminal Justice Programs will transfer funds to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to aid in the state's efforts to improve criminal history records. The stateÂ’s criminal history record improvement (CHRI) project is a multi-year, phased approach plan designed to address the goal of improving state and federal criminal history information records available to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The project will span approximately five (5) years depending on the level of funding available per federal fiscal year. Phase I of the CHRI project was an effort to modernize and standardize the way original charge data is collected from primary booking agencies and reported to the repository. Phase II of the CHRI project was designed to improve the quality, completeness, accuracy, and availability of records at the state and national level. Funds are being requested to complete phase III of the project which will include the continuation of livescan deployment and firewall replacement, elimination of the current records backlog, and continuing education for management in the Information Services Division. AOC is requesting support for enhancements to the Tennessee Court Information System (TnCIS), as well as equipment upgrades to support the reporting of felony case judgment data. (CA/NCF)