West Virginia's Criminal Records Improvement Project

The NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, P. L. 110-180 ("NIAA"), was initially signed into law by the President on January 8, 2008 (reauthorized by Title VI of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, P.L. 115-141). The NIAA amends the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993 ("the Brady Act") (Pub. L. 103-159), under which the Attorney General established the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). The Brady Act requires Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to contact the NICS before transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person for information on whether the proposed transferee is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm under state or federal law. The NIAA authorizes grants to be made in a manner consistent with the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP).

Under the FY 19 NARIP, the West Virginia Supreme Court (WVSC) will use funds to establish automated interfaces between the state record repository and the courts and to continue criminal records searches to locate and submit missing and incorrect dispositions. The Court will continue to make mental health, domestic violence, and other prohibiting record information available to NCIC and the NICS Indices. With the enhancement and integration of electronic systems, it is critical to have dedicated personnel who provide data quality analysis and oversight on the various systems.

(CA/NCF)