President Clinton Announces Over $41 Million to Stop Violent Criminals From Purchasing Firearms
Grants Will Improve Criminal History Records Vital to National Check System
WASHINGTON, DCAt the White House today, President Clinton announced that 46 states are receiving grants totaling more than $41 million to continue improving criminal history records, which will help keep felons from purchasing handguns. This is the fourth year of funding under the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), administered by the Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).
"Too many violent criminals are able to buy firearms and commit crimes within hours of the purchase," said President Clinton. "These grants will allow states to continue improving their criminal history records and share them#151;to ensure that firearms do not end up in the wrong hands." In June of this year, BJS reported that an estimated 69,000 handgun sales were blocked during 1997 through presale background checks. About 62 percent of the 1997 rejections were based on a prior felony conviction or a current felony indictment. Between the effective date of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act in February 1994 and December 31, 1997, there were an estimated 242,000 potential purchases stopped because of background checks, according to BJS.
One of the primary reasons states are receiving these funds is so criminal records can be shared nationally through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which is being developed by the FBI and will be operational next month. NICS will enable firearms dealers to obtain instant background checks in connection with sales to keep criminals from purchasing guns.
The criminal history records are also vital for keeping individuals who are dangerous to others from getting jobs where they have access to children, the elderly or disabled individuals. Accurate and accessible records also help courts avoid granting bail to individuals who may pose a danger to the community and also permit law enforcement officials to know if individuals questioned or detained have criminal histories.
"Accurate and accessible criminal records help keep communities safe," said Attorney General Janet Reno. "More complete criminal histories can help police and prosecutors keep dangerous criminals off the streets ."
Criminal history records are fingerprint cards or their electronic counterparts, linked with information about arrests, convictions and sentences, when available. NCHIP funds are used to modernize criminal history records systems, including automated fingerprint identification. In addition to making general improvements, states may use NCHIP funds to develop record systems to better protect victims of stalking, domestic violence and child abuse by exchanging records of protection orders as well as convictions.
Every state that applied for a Fiscal Year 1998 NCHIP grant is receiving one. The attached chart includes the amount of each award, the agency within the state that will receive the funds and a state contact. Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi and Nevada will receive grants later this year. The District of Columbia did not apply for FY 1998 NCHIP funds; however, it received NCHIP funds in previous years.
The awards being announced today bring the total amount distributed in direct awards to states under NCHIP to over $200 million. The President has requested $45 million for NCHIP in Fiscal Year 1999.
For additional information about BJS and its programs, go to the BJS web site at http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/.
For additional information about OJP and its grant programs, go to the OJP web site at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov
OFFICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS
BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS
NATIONAL CRIMINAL HISTORY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (NCHIP)
RECIPIENT RECIPIENT STATE FY 98 AWARD TOTAL NCHIP
AGENCY CONTACT FUNDS TO DATE
Alabama Criminal Therese Ford, $357,720 $2,258,819
Justice 334/242-4900
Information
Center,
Montgomery, AL
Alaska Department of Diane $540,000 $2,321,318
Public Safety Schenker,
Anchorage, AK 907/269-5092
Arizona Criminal Gerald E. $719,997 $3,049,144
Justice Hardt,
Commission, 602-542-1928
Phoenix, AZ
Arkansas Crime Larry $540,000 $2,213,996
Information Cockrell,
Center, 501/682-2222
Little Rock, AR
California Department of Gary Maggy, $3,950,000 $17,825,542
Justice, Bureau 916/227-3844
of Criminal
Identification
and Information,
Sacramento, CA
Colorado Department of John Inmann, $1,063,945 $2,810,359
Public Safety, 303/239-4470
Division of
Criminal Justice,
Denver, CO
Connecticut Office of Theron A. $643,777 $3,047,968
Policy and Schnure,
Management, 860/418-6390
Hartford, CT
Delaware State Bureau Capt. $451,350 $2,352,369
of Ident- David Deputy,
ification, 302/739-5872
Division of
State Police,
Dover, DE
District Metropolitan Deborah L. Did not apply $1,248,676
of Columbia Police Wright,
Department, 202/727-4301
Washington, DC
Florida Department of Clayton $1,138,820 $6,366,986
Community Wilder,
Affairs, 904/488-8016
Tallahassee, FL
Georgia Crime Bill Holland, $995,000 $3,794,910
Information 404/244-2775
Center,
Decatur, GA
Hawaii Criminal Liane $500,000 $2,047,125
Justice Moriyama,
Data Center, 808/587-3110
Honolulu, HI
Idaho Department of Robert Taylor, $206,000 $1,141,000
Law 208/884-7133
Enforcement,
Meridian, ID
Illinois Criminal Justice Candice Kane, $1,690,000 $8,392,000
Information 312/793-8550
Authority,
Chicago, IL
Indiana Criminal Justice Kevin Sifferlen, $880,000 $4,242,273
Institute, 317/232-1233
Indianapolis, IN
Iowa Department of Tim McDonald, $153,044 $2,120,093
Public Safety, 515/281-5138
Des Moines, IA
Kansas Criminal Justice Barbara Tombs, $475,000 $2,362,000
Coordinating 913/296-0923
Council,
Topeka, KS
Kentucky Justice Cabinet, Mike Fulkerson, To be awarded $2,165,000
Frankfort, KY 502/564-3251
Louisiana Commission on Carle Jackson, $512,435 $2,566,396
Law Enforcement 504/925-4429
and the
Administration
of Criminal
Justice,
Baton Rouge, LA
Maine Bureau of State Maj. Jeffrey $510,000 $3,491,500
Police, Harmon,
Augusta, ME 207/624-7062
Maryland Department of Barbara King, To be awarded $2,860,000
Public Safety 410/764-4200
and Correctional
Services,
Pikesville, MD
Massachusetts Committee on Richard St. $1,350,000 $6,575,250
Criminal Louis,
Justice, 617/727-6300
Boston, MA
Michigan Department of David Turner, $1,270,000 $5,660,874
State Police, 517/322-1424
Lansing, MI
Minnesota Bureau of Karen McDonald, $480,000 $3,270,360
Criminal 612/642-0687
Apprehension,
St. Paul, MN
Mississippi Department of Jimmy Dukes, To be awarded $2,339,442
Public Safety, 601/933-2600
Jackson, MS
Missouri State Highway Lt. Robert E. $570,439 $3,741,122
Patrol, Gartner,
Jefferson 573/526-6160
City, MO
Montana Board of Crime Thomas Murphy, $670,890 $1,741,383
Control, 406/444-4298
Helena, MT
Nebraska State Patrol, Lathan Rohren, $652,155 $2,347,485
Lincoln, NE 402/479-4938
Nevada Department of Dennis A. To be awarded $1,265,000
Motor Vehicles Debacco,
and Public Safety, 702-687-8784
Carson City, NV
New Hampshire Office of the Mark C. $659,200 $2,836,713
Attorney General, Thompson,
Concord, NH 603-271-3658
New Jersey Department of Steven C. $829,026 $4,882,748
Law and Public Talpas,
Safety, 609-984-0634
Trenton, NJ
New Mexico Department of Irene $499,521 $3,644,992
Public Safety, Trujillo,
Santa Fe, NM 505-827-9185
New York Integrated Systems James F. $2,850,000 $14,021,095
Development Unit, Shea,
Division of 518-457-6075
Criminal
Justice Services,
Albany, NY
North Carolina Governor's Crime David E. $612,260 $3,761,715
Commission, Jones,
Raleigh, NC 919-571-4736
North Dakota Bureau of Robert J. $480,000 $2,193,913
Criminal Helten,
Investigation, 701-328-5500
Bismarck, ND
Ohio Office of Criminal Melissa J. $1,340,000 $7,126,343
Justice Services, Winesburg,
Columbus, OH 614-466-7782
Oklahoma District Gayle $476,650 $2,025,517
Attorneys Caldwell,
Council, 405-557-6707
Oklahoma City,
OK
Oregon Department of Beverlee $480,000 $2,964,850
State Police, Venell,
Salem, OR 503-378-3720
Pennsylvania Commission on James $2,781,276 $8,953,260
Crime and Thomas,
Delinquency, 717-787-2040
Harrisburg, PA
Puerto Rico Criminal Justice Alfonso $400,000 $400,000
Information Golderos,
Systems 787-729-2121
Office
San Juan, PR
Rhode Island Governor's Justice Norman $421,400 $1,740,244
Commission, Dakake,
Providence, RI 401-277-4499
South Carolina Law Enforcement Maj. Mark $1,070,000 $3,056,020
Division, Huguley,
Columbia, SC 803-896-7142
South Dakota Office of the Judi $394,950 $1,473,300
Attorney General, Schneider,
Division of 605-773-4614
Criminal
Investigation,
Pierre, SD
Tennessee Department of Patricia $600,000 $3,262,155
Finance and Dishman,
Administration, 615-741-8277
Nashville, TN
Texas Criminal Justice Gene Draper, $3,400,000 $14,561,200
Policy Council, 512-463-1810
Austin, TX
Utah Commission on Richard $601,695 $2,171,054
Criminal and Ziebarth,
Juvenile Justice, 801-538-1812
Salt Lake City, UT
Vermont Department of Philip $500,091 $3,843,836
Public Safety, Colby,
Waterbury, VT 802-244-8786
Virginia State Police, Lt. Col. $1,169,827 $4,708,913
Richmond, VA Harry M.
Durham,
804-674-4606
Washington Office of Gary $730,000 $3,822,682
Financial Robinson,
Management, 360-902-0593
Olympia, WA
West Virginia Department of Michael $390,800 $2,614,800
Military Affairs Cutlip,
and Public Safety, 304-558-8814
Charleston, WV
Wisconsin Office of Justice Stephen $790,000 $3,656,000
Assistance, Grohmann,
Madison, WI 608-266-7185
Wyoming Division of James $130,926 $896,264
Criminal Wilson,
Investigation, 307-777-7523
Cheyenne, WY
BJS 98-209
After hours page Doug Johnson at 1-888/582-6750