Missing Disposition Data Project

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 FY 18 NCHIP project, the Ohio Office of Criminal Justice Services will sub-award funds to the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) to conduct two projects: a missing disposition project and a county outreach project.

Under the missing disposition project, BCI will focus on updating and automating case outcomes from courts and prosecutors in state records and the FBI’s Criminal History File. Specifically, BCI will implement criminal history procedures to complete arrest reporting, and research missing dispositions in order to provide the relevant data in both state and federal files. BCI expect to find approximately 50,000 missing dispositions under this project and will conduct several task to accomplish their goals.

Under the county outreach project, Ohio Revised Code section 109.57 requires every clerk of a court in the state, other than the Supreme Court or a court of appeals, to send a weekly report of case dispositions to BCI. Despite this mandate, many Ohio courts have demands on their schedule, staffing, and other reporting requirements, that lead to incomplete and missing dispositions over time. Many challenges and barriers exist that prevent the timely submission of these vital records but this project will address the issues without prescribing a one size fits all model.

(CA/NCF)