FY 2017 Montana 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.

The Montana Board of Crime Control (MBCC) will complete a phased approached to a multi-year effort to improve the Computerized Criminal History (CCH) Systems. The work will entail the collaborative effort of the Montana Department of Justice (DOJ), Montana Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Montana Office Court Administration (OCA).

MTDOJ Livescans. Currently, livescan software and computer operating system updates, equipment service life, and technology changes are ongoing issues of focus for MTDOJ. MTDOJ carefully considers timing and funding required to assure livescans continue to remain viable and secure. With all of the livescans connected to MTDOJ systems being supported on a Windows 7 computer operating system platform will be reaching their end-of-life in 2019, all livescan systems must be updated to a more current operating system. Funds will be used to update the version of livescan software to a newer operating system platform to allow continued functionality for all livescans.

Additionally, for MTDOJ to keep the livescan fleet robust and functional after 2019, the livescan devices that have or soon will reach end-of-life must be replaced. NCHIP funding is requested to replace nine (9) end-of-life devices and all livescan computers, update livescan software, and deploy the updated systems.

For the MTDOC project, the MTDOC will receive funds to support their efforts to link their Offender Management Information System (OMIS) with state detention facilities and jail. This project will entail specific support for the migration of existing MTDOJ exchange data to Exchange Portal as well as upgrade to MT Criminal History Improvement Program - Misdemeanor Offender Registry (MCHIP-MOR) Portal to include Livescan Interface from MCHIP-MOR. This project will build the interface that counties using MCHIP-MOR as the Jail Management System (JMS) could use the same enterprise services the MTDOC has created once memorandum of understandings and service agreements are reached. Continued maintenance of the portal will be the responsibility of the MTDOC staff and county users will be supported via MBCC funding.

For the MTOCA project, funds will support personnel costs to expedite statewide deployment of the refreshed, centralized, web-based FullCourt Enterprise case management system that is scheduled to be completed in September, 2017. The primary role for these analysts will be conversion cleanup, application implementation, training, and continued support during the transition from the current case management system to the refreshed, centralized, web-based FCE case management system. After the deployment of the four pilot sites, there will be 188 remaining conversions of FullCourt V5 to the centralized FullCourt Enterprise.

The MBCC, MTDOJ, MTDOC, and MTOCA will share in the responsibility for contributing the 10% match.

(CA/NCF)