Justice Department Awards Over $42 Million to Improve Criminal History Records
Funds Enhance Identification of Ineligible Gun Purchasers and Sex Offenders
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20The Justice Department today is awarding more than $42 million to 55 states and territories to continue automating and improving the quality of criminal history records, which can help law enforcement with background checks for guns and other purposes. The awards mark the fifth year of funding under the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), which has provided over $273 million to states and territories since 1995.
"This nation's system of background checks for gun purchases has already blocked more than 400,000 gun sales to ineligible persons," said Attorney General Janet Reno. "These grants will help us continue to make America safer by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and others who should not have them."
Criminal history records are fingerprint cards or their electronic counterparts, linked with information about arrests, convictions, and sentences. NCHIP funds are used to modernize and automate criminal history records systems and sex offender registries. One of the primary purposes for FY 1999 NCHIP funds is to ensure that records of arrests also include information on the disposition of the cases. Dispositions showing a conviction are needed to prevent the sale of a firearm.
Complete, accurate, and accessible criminal history records permit law enforcement officials to know if individuals questioned or detained have criminal histories and help courts avoid granting bail to individuals who may pose a danger to the community. Criminal history records are also vital for screening individuals for positions of trust where they have access to children, the elderly or disabled individuals. Records systems also identify persons with a criminal history of domestic violence and stalking subject to protection orders, as well as persons with a history of sex offenses.
NCHIP grants are made to state agencies designated by the governor. The agencies then may allocate funds to state criminal identification bureaus, courts, and other agencies that maintain information about arrests and dispositions of criminal cases. Award amounts are determined by the condition of the state's records, the purposes for which funds were requested, and the impact that improvements will have on the availability of records throughout the national system.
All 50 states applied for and received an FY 1999 NCHIP award. The attached chart includes the amount of each award, the agency within the state that will receive the funds, and a state contact. Funds awarded to support enhancement of state sex offender registries are included in the NCHIP total.
More information on BJS, including statistics on background checks for gun purchases, is available through the BJS Website at http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov. BJS is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which provides information on criminal justice programs and research at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.
TOTAL NCHIP
RECIPIENT RECIPIENT STATE FY 1999 AWARDS
AGENCY CONTACT AWARD TO DATE
Alabama Criminal Justice Therese $750,000 $3,127,103
Information Center, Ford,
Montgomery, AL 205/242-4900
Alaska Department of Diane $720,000 $3,456,318
Public Safety, Schenker,
Anchorage, AK 907/269-5092
American
Samoa Department of Tasi Mauga $400,000 $800,000
Public Safety, 684/633-2827
Pago Pago, AS
Arizona Criminal Justice Gerald E. $559,672 $3,888,988
Commission, Hardt,
Phoenix, AZ 602/230-0252,
x210
Arkansas Crime Information Larry $555,752 $2,976,857
Center, Cockrell,
Little Rock, AR 501/682-2222
California Department of Gary Cooper, $2,670,180* $22,895,722
Justice, Bureau 916/227-3857
of Criminal
Identification
and Information,
Sacramento, CA
Colorado Department of Lance Clem, $599,402 $3,528,113
Public Safety, 303/239-4442
Division of
Criminal Justice,
Denver, CO
Connecticut Office of Theron A. $520,000 $4,117,968
Policy and Schnure,
Management, 860/418-6416
Hartford, CT
Delaware State Bureau of Capt. David $521,560 $3,130,837
Identification, Deputy,
Division of 302/739-5872
State Police,
Dover, DE
District of
Columbia Metropolitan Mark $278,288 $1,525,807
Police Department, Brinkman,
Washington, DC 202/727-1914
Florida Department of Clayton $2,496,500 $9,373,486
Community Affairs, Wilder,
Tallahassee, FL 904/488-8016
Georgia Crime Information Bill Holland, $1,778,528 $6,143,349
Center, 404/244-2775
Decatur, GA
*Funds for the California Sex Offender Registry will be awarded later.
Guam Superior Court, Jacqueline $399,796 $799,796
Hagatna, GU Zahnen,
671/475-3270
Hawaii Criminal Justice Liane $520,000 $2,967,125
Data Center, Moriyama,
Honolulu, HI 808/587-3110
Idaho Department of Robert $275,289 $1,554,561
Law Enforcement, Taylor,
Meridian, ID 208/884-7133
Illinois Criminal Justice Candice Kane, $1,300,000 $10,372,000
Information 312/793-8550
Authority,
Chicago, IL
Indiana Criminal Justice Kevin $780,000 $5,022,273
Institute, Sifferlen,
Indianapolis, IN 317/232-1233
Iowa Department of Tim McDonald, $358,318 $2,783,525
Public Safety, 515/281-5138
Des Moines, IA
Kansas Criminal Justice Barbara $480,000 $2,932,319
Coordinating Tombs,
Council, 913/296-0923
Topeka, KS
Kentucky Justice Cabinet, Kim Allen, $519,000 $3,984,961
Frankfort, KY 502/564-3251
Louisiana Commission on Carle $739,314 $3,903,751
Law Enforcement and Jackson,
the Administration of 504/925-4429
Criminal Justice,
Baton Rouge, LA
Maine Bureau of Maj. Jeffrey $520,000 $4,131,166
State Police, Harmon,
Augusta, ME 207/624-7062
Maryland Department of Barbara $770,000 $4,630,000
Public Safety and King,
Correctional 410/764-4375
Services,
Towson, MD
Massachusetts Committee on Michael $1,100,000 $8,275,250
Criminal Justice, O'Toole,
Boston, MA 617/727-6300,
x301
Michigan Department of David Turner, $1,015,365 $7,151,290
State Police, 517/322-1424
Lansing, MI
Minnesota Bureau of Karen $516,089 $4,256,989
Criminal McDonald,
Apprehension, 612/642-0687
St. Paul, MN
Mississippi Department of Will Spann, $666,543 $3,748,079
Public Safety, 601/933-2604
Jackson, MS
Missouri State Highway Lt. Robert $644,403 $5,172,515
Patrol, E. Gartner,
Jefferson City, MO 573/526-6160
Montana Board of Crime Thomas $520,000 $2,574,486
Control, Murphy,
Helena, MT 406/444-4298
Nebraska State Patrol, Jeannie $557,080 $3,037,053
Lincoln, NE Kohl,
402/479-4010
Nevada Office of Sandy Mazy, $810,000 $2,500,000
Criminal Justice 775/687-4166
Assistance,
Carson City, NV
New
Hampshire Office of the Mark C. $520,000 $3,566,713
Attorney General, Thompson,
Concord, NH 603/271-3658
New Jersey Department of Steven C. $1,170,000 $6,700,533
Law and Public Talpas,
Safety, 609/984-0634
Trenton, NJ
New Mexico Department of Irene $559,950 $4,596,416
Public Safety, Trujillo,
Santa Fe, NM 505/827-9185
New York Integrated Systems James F. $2,090,000 $17,472,269
Development Unit, Shea,
Division of 518/457-6075
Criminal Justice
Services,
Albany, NY
North
Carolina Governor's Crime Doug $610,003 $4,807,653
Commission, Yearwood,
Raleigh, NC 919/571-4736
North Dakota Bureau of Robert J. $520,000 $2,931,218
Criminal Helten,
Investigation, 701/328-5500
Bismarck, ND
Ohio Office of John Bender, $1,090,000 $9,456,526
Criminal Justice 614/466-7782
Services,
Columbus, OH
Oklahoma District Attorneys Louietta $602,681 $2,628,198
Council, Jones,
Oklahoma City, OK 405/557-6707
Oregon Department of Beverlee $527,000 $3,678,348
State Police, Venell,
Salem, OR 503/378-3720,
x4142
Pennsylvania Commission on James Thomas, $1,220,000 $11,395,537
Crime and 717/787-2040
Delinquency,
Harrisburg, PA
Puerto Rico Criminal Justice Alfonso $469,714 $812,436
Information Systems Golderos,
Office 787/729-2121
San Juan, PR
Rhode
Island Governor's Justice Gina $415,300 $1,845,294
Commission, Caruolo,
Providence, RI 401/277-4499
South
Carolina Law Enforcement Maj. Mark $925,890 $5,266,593
Division, Huguley,
Columbia, SC 803/896-7142
South Dakota Office of the Judi $330,741 $2,012,211
Attorney General, Schneider,
Division of 605/773-4614
Criminal
Investigation,
Pierre, SD
Tennessee Department of Patricia $738,832 $4,166,817
Finance and Dishman,
Administration, 615/741-8277
Nashville, TN
Texas Criminal Justice Gene Draper, $2,500,000 $17,246,300
Policy Council, 512/463-1810
Austin, TX
Utah Commission on Richard $555,472 $3,073,085
Criminal and Ziebarth,
Juvenile Justice, 801/538-1812
Salt Lake City, UT
Vermont Department of Philip Colby, $513,375 $4,514,810
Public Safety, 802/244-8786
Criminal Justice
Systems Division
Waterbury, VT
Virgin
Islands Law Enforcement Helene $203,157 $203,157
Planning Commission, Smolett,
St. Thomas, VI 340/774-6400
Virginia State Police, Lt. Col. $924,021 $6,507,577
Richmond, VA Harry M.
Durham,
804/674-4606
Washington Office of Gary $689,000 $5,111,682
Financial Robinson,
Management, 360/902-0593
Olympia, WA
West
Virginia Department of Michael $518,876 $3,384,564
Military Affairs Cutlip,
and Public Safety, 304/558-8814
Charleston, WV
Wisconsin Office of Stephen $730,000 $5,267,700
Justice Assistance, Grohmann,
Madison, WI 608/266-7185
Wyoming Division of James $50,016 $1,052,389
Criminal Wilson,
Investigation, 307/777-7523
Cheyenne, WY
TOTAL $42,815,107 $273,153,201
* OJP and its component agencies' press releases are available for use
without restriction.
BJS 99156
SOURCE U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics
CONTACT: Office of Justice Programs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, 202-307-0703, or after-hours, Doug Johnson, 888-491-4487