FY 2017 Virginia NCHIP

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 the 2017 NCHIP priority area 1 for updating and automating case outcomes in state records and the FBI’s Criminal History File, the Virginia State Police (VSP) will conduct two projects to contribute information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Specifically, 1) retain the services of a business analyst (BA) to oversee the functionality of the replacement JAVA Criminal History Records System (JCCH); and 2) to provide assistance with the issuance of nonresident concealed handgun permits, with emphasis on analyzing criminal history records and subsequent research in compliance with state and federal firearms-related laws.

Replacement JCCH: VSP will use NCHIP funds to continue to support a business analyst (BA) for a 12-month period to be responsible for the oversight, operations, and requirements of the replacement JCCH System. The VSP implemented the JCCH on October 9, 2016 which replaced a 30 year old system. Since the start of the JCCH, 71 defects have been rectified, 214 defects are unresolved, 103 data changes are pending, and 209 deferred features are outstanding and need programming. The 2017 NCHIP funded BA responsibilities include drafting system enhancements in response to new legislation and regulation. The BA will have a thorough understanding of the arrest, disposition, and other automated processes and ensure the effective and accurate functionality of the JCCH. This is critical to safeguarding that arrest and disposition information is applied accurately to the criminal record and that data is transmitted to the NICS and other federal databases. The BA will work closely with the courts to provide guidance on disposition reporting and with the Supreme Court of Virginia (SCV) to confirm that dispositions being transmitted through the system are in compliance with the applicable laws.

Firearms Transaction Center: VSP will use NCHIP funds to support a full-time Program Support Technician to perform duties and responsibilities associated with the lawful possession of firearms and the issuance of nonresident concealed handgun permits. The VSP receives on average 393 Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permit applications per month. Processes of the applications includes receipt, distribution of incoming mail, review of applications, collection and transmittal of funds, transmittal of fingerprint cards to AFIS, query of all state and federal systems, research and interpretation of information to determine lawful eligibility. The FTE will share determinations of ineligibility with the FBI/NICS personnel or directly enter records of disqualification into the NICS Index. The impact of the project will be to upgrade the quality of permanent records maintained in the state and federal systems accessed by the NICS. Court disposition information obtained during the research will be shared with the FBI for updating of the federal criminal history record and with the VA state criminal databases. The project supports the commitment of the VSP as Point of Contact to the NICS to accurately and efficiently identify persons who are ineligible to possess firearms or be issued a concealed handgun permit. (CA/NCF)