Justice Department Awards Over $42 Million to Improve Criminal History Records
Funds Enhance Identification of Ineligible Gun Purchasers and Sex Offenders
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20The Justice Department today is awarding more than $42 million to 55 states and territories to continue automating and improving the quality of criminal history records, which can help law enforcement with background checks for guns and other purposes. The awards mark the fifth year of funding under the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), which has provided over $273 million to states and territories since 1995.
"This nation's system of background checks for gun purchases has already blocked more than 400,000 gun sales to ineligible persons," said Attorney General Janet Reno. "These grants will help us continue to make America safer by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and others who should not have them."
Criminal history records are fingerprint cards or their electronic counterparts, linked with information about arrests, convictions, and sentences. NCHIP funds are used to modernize and automate criminal history records systems and sex offender registries. One of the primary purposes for FY 1999 NCHIP funds is to ensure that records of arrests also include information on the disposition of the cases. Dispositions showing a conviction are needed to prevent the sale of a firearm.
Complete, accurate, and accessible criminal history records permit law enforcement officials to know if individuals questioned or detained have criminal histories and help courts avoid granting bail to individuals who may pose a danger to the community. Criminal history records are also vital for screening individuals for positions of trust where they have access to children, the elderly or disabled individuals. Records systems also identify persons with a criminal history of domestic violence and stalking subject to protection orders, as well as persons with a history of sex offenses.
NCHIP grants are made to state agencies designated by the governor. The agencies then may allocate funds to state criminal identification bureaus, courts, and other agencies that maintain information about arrests and dispositions of criminal cases. Award amounts are determined by the condition of the state's records, the purposes for which funds were requested, and the impact that improvements will have on the availability of records throughout the national system.
All 50 states applied for and received an FY 1999 NCHIP award. The attached chart includes the amount of each award, the agency within the state that will receive the funds, and a state contact. Funds awarded to support enhancement of state sex offender registries are included in the NCHIP total.
More information on BJS, including statistics on background checks for gun purchases, is available through the BJS Website at http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov. BJS is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which provides information on criminal justice programs and research at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.
TOTAL NCHIP RECIPIENT RECIPIENT STATE FY 1999 AWARDS AGENCY CONTACT AWARD TO DATE Alabama Criminal Justice Therese $750,000 $3,127,103 Information Center, Ford, Montgomery, AL 205/242-4900 Alaska Department of Diane $720,000 $3,456,318 Public Safety, Schenker, Anchorage, AK 907/269-5092 American Samoa Department of Tasi Mauga $400,000 $800,000 Public Safety, 684/633-2827 Pago Pago, AS Arizona Criminal Justice Gerald E. $559,672 $3,888,988 Commission, Hardt, Phoenix, AZ 602/230-0252, x210 Arkansas Crime Information Larry $555,752 $2,976,857 Center, Cockrell, Little Rock, AR 501/682-2222 California Department of Gary Cooper, $2,670,180* $22,895,722 Justice, Bureau 916/227-3857 of Criminal Identification and Information, Sacramento, CA Colorado Department of Lance Clem, $599,402 $3,528,113 Public Safety, 303/239-4442 Division of Criminal Justice, Denver, CO Connecticut Office of Theron A. $520,000 $4,117,968 Policy and Schnure, Management, 860/418-6416 Hartford, CT Delaware State Bureau of Capt. David $521,560 $3,130,837 Identification, Deputy, Division of 302/739-5872 State Police, Dover, DE District of Columbia Metropolitan Mark $278,288 $1,525,807 Police Department, Brinkman, Washington, DC 202/727-1914 Florida Department of Clayton $2,496,500 $9,373,486 Community Affairs, Wilder, Tallahassee, FL 904/488-8016 Georgia Crime Information Bill Holland, $1,778,528 $6,143,349 Center, 404/244-2775 Decatur, GA *Funds for the California Sex Offender Registry will be awarded later. Guam Superior Court, Jacqueline $399,796 $799,796 Hagatna, GU Zahnen, 671/475-3270 Hawaii Criminal Justice Liane $520,000 $2,967,125 Data Center, Moriyama, Honolulu, HI 808/587-3110 Idaho Department of Robert $275,289 $1,554,561 Law Enforcement, Taylor, Meridian, ID 208/884-7133 Illinois Criminal Justice Candice Kane, $1,300,000 $10,372,000 Information 312/793-8550 Authority, Chicago, IL Indiana Criminal Justice Kevin $780,000 $5,022,273 Institute, Sifferlen, Indianapolis, IN 317/232-1233 Iowa Department of Tim McDonald, $358,318 $2,783,525 Public Safety, 515/281-5138 Des Moines, IA Kansas Criminal Justice Barbara $480,000 $2,932,319 Coordinating Tombs, Council, 913/296-0923 Topeka, KS Kentucky Justice Cabinet, Kim Allen, $519,000 $3,984,961 Frankfort, KY 502/564-3251 Louisiana Commission on Carle $739,314 $3,903,751 Law Enforcement and Jackson, the Administration of 504/925-4429 Criminal Justice, Baton Rouge, LA Maine Bureau of Maj. Jeffrey $520,000 $4,131,166 State Police, Harmon, Augusta, ME 207/624-7062 Maryland Department of Barbara $770,000 $4,630,000 Public Safety and King, Correctional 410/764-4375 Services, Towson, MD Massachusetts Committee on Michael $1,100,000 $8,275,250 Criminal Justice, O'Toole, Boston, MA 617/727-6300, x301 Michigan Department of David Turner, $1,015,365 $7,151,290 State Police, 517/322-1424 Lansing, MI Minnesota Bureau of Karen $516,089 $4,256,989 Criminal McDonald, Apprehension, 612/642-0687 St. Paul, MN Mississippi Department of Will Spann, $666,543 $3,748,079 Public Safety, 601/933-2604 Jackson, MS Missouri State Highway Lt. Robert $644,403 $5,172,515 Patrol, E. Gartner, Jefferson City, MO 573/526-6160 Montana Board of Crime Thomas $520,000 $2,574,486 Control, Murphy, Helena, MT 406/444-4298 Nebraska State Patrol, Jeannie $557,080 $3,037,053 Lincoln, NE Kohl, 402/479-4010 Nevada Office of Sandy Mazy, $810,000 $2,500,000 Criminal Justice 775/687-4166 Assistance, Carson City, NV New Hampshire Office of the Mark C. $520,000 $3,566,713 Attorney General, Thompson, Concord, NH 603/271-3658 New Jersey Department of Steven C. $1,170,000 $6,700,533 Law and Public Talpas, Safety, 609/984-0634 Trenton, NJ New Mexico Department of Irene $559,950 $4,596,416 Public Safety, Trujillo, Santa Fe, NM 505/827-9185 New York Integrated Systems James F. $2,090,000 $17,472,269 Development Unit, Shea, Division of 518/457-6075 Criminal Justice Services, Albany, NY North Carolina Governor's Crime Doug $610,003 $4,807,653 Commission, Yearwood, Raleigh, NC 919/571-4736 North Dakota Bureau of Robert J. $520,000 $2,931,218 Criminal Helten, Investigation, 701/328-5500 Bismarck, ND Ohio Office of John Bender, $1,090,000 $9,456,526 Criminal Justice 614/466-7782 Services, Columbus, OH Oklahoma District Attorneys Louietta $602,681 $2,628,198 Council, Jones, Oklahoma City, OK 405/557-6707 Oregon Department of Beverlee $527,000 $3,678,348 State Police, Venell, Salem, OR 503/378-3720, x4142 Pennsylvania Commission on James Thomas, $1,220,000 $11,395,537 Crime and 717/787-2040 Delinquency, Harrisburg, PA Puerto Rico Criminal Justice Alfonso $469,714 $812,436 Information Systems Golderos, Office 787/729-2121 San Juan, PR Rhode Island Governor's Justice Gina $415,300 $1,845,294 Commission, Caruolo, Providence, RI 401/277-4499 South Carolina Law Enforcement Maj. Mark $925,890 $5,266,593 Division, Huguley, Columbia, SC 803/896-7142 South Dakota Office of the Judi $330,741 $2,012,211 Attorney General, Schneider, Division of 605/773-4614 Criminal Investigation, Pierre, SD Tennessee Department of Patricia $738,832 $4,166,817 Finance and Dishman, Administration, 615/741-8277 Nashville, TN Texas Criminal Justice Gene Draper, $2,500,000 $17,246,300 Policy Council, 512/463-1810 Austin, TX Utah Commission on Richard $555,472 $3,073,085 Criminal and Ziebarth, Juvenile Justice, 801/538-1812 Salt Lake City, UT Vermont Department of Philip Colby, $513,375 $4,514,810 Public Safety, 802/244-8786 Criminal Justice Systems Division Waterbury, VT Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Helene $203,157 $203,157 Planning Commission, Smolett, St. Thomas, VI 340/774-6400 Virginia State Police, Lt. Col. $924,021 $6,507,577 Richmond, VA Harry M. Durham, 804/674-4606 Washington Office of Gary $689,000 $5,111,682 Financial Robinson, Management, 360/902-0593 Olympia, WA West Virginia Department of Michael $518,876 $3,384,564 Military Affairs Cutlip, and Public Safety, 304/558-8814 Charleston, WV Wisconsin Office of Stephen $730,000 $5,267,700 Justice Assistance, Grohmann, Madison, WI 608/266-7185 Wyoming Division of James $50,016 $1,052,389 Criminal Wilson, Investigation, 307/777-7523 Cheyenne, WY TOTAL $42,815,107 $273,153,201 * OJP and its component agencies' press releases are available for use without restriction.
BJS 99156
SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics
CONTACT: Office of Justice Programs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, 202-307-0703, or after-hours, Doug Johnson, 888-491-4487