Kansas Criminal History Record Improvement Program

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 2018 NCHIP, the Kansas Governor’s Office (KGO) will use funds to continue efforts to enter all manually submitted court disposition documents as received and move forward in synchronizing criminal record databases in the Central Repository.

Under the Disposition Date Entry project, KGO will build on past funding to support disposition data entry. Specifically, sub-awarding funds to The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) to continue the efforts of the eight (8) personnel from prior year efforts and add eight additional (8) personnel to provide essential support to ongoing work to automate criminal history records, electronically image source documents, synchronize databases to identify and obtain missing record data, incorporate domestic violence data, promote uniform data exchange, and facilitate access to more complete and accurate arrest and disposition information in support of criminal justice practitioners and the NICS program. Currently, there is a backlog of 73,721 paper dispositions that are stored electronically waiting to be entered, 191,045 errant electronic dispositions that are pending review, and 428,995 historical records that require automation. The requested positions will each be expected to enter 1,000 dispositions per month for a total of 192,000 over the twelve (12) month period, thereby providing additional information to NICS for firearm purchases, to courts for presentence investigations, and for pre-employment/licensing decisions.

The KBI will also use funds to send one additional member of its staff to the Compact Council and SEARCH meetings. These meeting will allow for KBI to partner with other criminal history record custodians, end-users, and policymakers to regulate and facilitate the sharing of complete, accurate, and timely criminal history record information to noncriminal justice users to enhance public safety. Additionally, participation would provide resources and discussion with other states, federal-level partners and organizations on methods to ensure that Kansas criminal history records are accurate and up-to-date. KBI will match 10% of the grant funds for this project.

(CA/NCF)