FY 2017 National Criminal History Improvement Program (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 areas 1 (updating and automating case outcomes in state records and the FBI’s Criminal History File) and 2 (automating access information concerning persons prohibited from possessing or receiving a firearm and transmitting relevant records to III, NCIC, and the NICS), the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) will administer and conduct 3 projects in collaboration with partner agencies. The three projects include, 1) the Office of the State Courts Administration (OSCA) will develop case management processes for the new case management system for associate and circuit level criminal cases; 2) the MSHP will modify the Livescan software and AFIS to capture expanded criminal history information; and 3) the MSHP will implement 38 “leased” Livescan devices to identified locations.

1) Implementation of Tools for the new Show-Me Courts case management system: OSCA will develop case management tools for the associate and circuit level criminal case processing. The development consists of: post disposition activities which includes tracking of probation, shock incarceration, special programs as conditions of probation and community service; criminal domestic violence assessment tool; and, pretrial release assessment tool. In 2014, OSCA began programming a replacement case management system, Show-Me Courts. The system must be redesigned and programmed for the Show-Me Courts system, which includes the three modifications: probation activities; criminal domestic violence assessment tool; and pre-trial assessment tool. These modifications will allow for more efficient and sustainable interfaces with other systems using modern technologies.

2) Modify the Livescan Software and AFIS: The MSHP has identified two area where the capture of expanded criminal history information would be beneficial on a state and federal levels. The two areas: 1) an individual was arrested for an outstanding warrant and turned-over-to another agency; and 2) an individual was arrested for a charge of Failure to Appear. The MSHP will purchase Livescan software to capture these two cases which will clarify the situations for law enforcement and make it much easier for determinations to be made for persons attempting to purchase or possess a firearm. In 2016, the MSHP received 5,938 Failure to Appears arrests lacking charge information and 27,139 warrant arrest charges where the arrestee was turned over to another agency but the agency was not identified.

3) Livescan Lease: The MSHP will use 2017 NCHIP funds to lease 38 Livescan devices and equipment for their local agencies. The purchase and on-going maintenance costs of Livescan devices is a huge cost burden in addition to the Livescan equipment being obsolete after a 5 year period. With the lease option, the agency will be responsible for an installation fee and an annual maintenance fee every year thereafter. The largest benefit of the lease plan is that as long as the agency continues to pay the annual maintenance fee, all equipment will be replaced on a 5-year schedule with the latest technology. NCHIP funds will be used to pay the initial fee of $6,592 for the agencies. The agency will then sign an agreement indicating that their agency will be responsible for all future annual maintenance fees to keep the device hardware updated. (CA/NCF)