FY 2018 Tennessee 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.

Under this award, the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Criminal Justice Programs will transfer funds to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) to aid in the state's efforts to improve criminal history records.

The state’s criminal history record improvement (CHRI) project is a multi-year, phased plan designed to address the goal of improving state and federal criminal history information records available to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Phase I of the CHRI project was an effort to modernize and standardize the way original charge data is collected from primary booking agencies and reported to the repository. Phase II of the CHRI project was designed to improve the quality, completeness, accuracy, and availability of records at the state and national level. Phase III involved the replacement of livescans in 15 counties, as well as eliminating the disposition backlog. Phase IV is currently underway and involves the replacement of the state’s NCIC Testing system with a web-based system. Funds will be used to complete the final phase of the multi-year project.

TBI will continue the record completion project by connecting backlogged electronic case dispositions to criminal history records. Training will be provided to statewide constituents regarding disposition, domestic violence, and mental health reporting. Updates on Tennessee legislation involving these areas will be included in the training. TBI will take ownership of criminal history records originating at the Federal level by transitioning records to the state’s repository, removing duplication of and reconciling missing data including dispositions. The Rap Back program will be expanded to notify appropriate agencies when new state and Federal charges and/or disposition data is added to a criminal history record.

Funds will also be used to have two staff members attend the National Association of Justice Information Systems (NAJIS) Conference to explore IT technologies and standards that improve and engineer information sharing throughout the United States. Program management and support will also be covered with funds from the NCHIP 2018 program.

(CA/NCF)