FY 2018 National Criminal History 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.

The North Dakota Office of the Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) serves as the State Administering Agency (SAA) and has been designated by the Governor as the NCHIP applicant. Under the 2018 priority area of updating and automating case outcomes in state records and the FBI’s Criminal History File, the BCI will use NCHIP funds to upgrade Livescan equipment throughout the state.

BCI will use FY 2018 NCHIP funds for three Livescan projects. First, Livescan devices across North Dakota will be upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10. Currently, the Livescan devices in North Dakota run on the Windows 7 operating system. Microsoft has already ended mainstream support for Windows 7 and will end security updates for Windows 7 on January 14, 2020. BCI needs to upgrade the Livescan devices to Windows 10 to ensure continued secure data transmission of arrest records and fingerprints. Sixty-seven units will be upgraded with Windows 10. Specifically, the computers within each Livescan will be replaced with a small form factor Windows 10 computer preconfigured with the LSS application.

Second, one ruggedized Livescan device will be purchased for Pembina County Sheriff’s Office. Pembina County Sheriff’s Office completes anywhere from 150-200 arrest cards per year. They are located in the far northeastern corner of our state, sharing a border with Canada and Minnesota. Pembina County Sheriff’s Office use of a Livescan significantly will increase the speed that a fingerprint card is put onto the criminal record. Once a card is submitted through the Livescan, BCI makes the arrest information available on the rap sheet within 24 hours. An ink rolled set of prints takes extra time for mail and for manual entry, extending the time before law enforcement, such as Border Patrol, NICS, and the public has access to it.

Third, Livescan software will be updated to include reporting and validation based on North Dakota’s Common Statute Table (CST). Currently, the arrest reporting provided by law enforcement is often too general and ambiguous to accurately pinpoint whether a NICS prohibitor may have been associated with the arrest and accurately tie a disposition to the correct arrest offense. The CST will help promote consistency among how agencies report arrest data for use by BCI and NICS. The CST offenses specifically identify NICS prohibitors. For example, North Dakota has seen frequent changes in severity levels of criminal offenses. Without the CST, it is often difficult to ensure law enforcement has the correct offense level for an arrest charge. For a given charge, the CST on the Liveccan will validate whether the selected offense is a misdemeanor or felony accurately. With that accurate information, NICS can discern whether the arrest and corresponding indictment would be a prohibitor. More accurate arrest data also will help BCI tie disposition data to the accurate arrest charge, which helps ensure prosecution and disposition data is accurate as well.

(CA/NCF)