ADVANCE FOR RELEASE 4:30 PM EDT??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ???? BJS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2002??????????????? ???????????????????????????????????????????????? ?202-307-0703
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AWARDS OVER $36 MILLION TO IMPROVE CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
SYSTEMS
WASHINGTON, D.C. ? The Department of Justice announced today that it is awarding over $36
million to the 50 states, District of Columbia, and three territories to
improve the quality and accessibility of the nation?s criminal history record
systems.? States can use the funds for a
variety of purposes, including to strengthen their criminal records systems to
support the nation?s efforts to reduce crime and fight terrorism.
Funding, which is provided under the Department?s
National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), is administered by the
Office of Justice Programs? (OJP) Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS).? The goal of NCHIP is to improve the nation?s
public safety by enhancing and upgrading the nation?s criminal history records,
which are used for background checks for firearms
purchases, criminal sentencing, and for employment in sensitive jobs .? Since the program was initiated in 1995, the
Justice Department has awarded nearly $391 million to the states and
territories, which has led to a 23 percent increase in the number of criminal
history records held nationwide and a 40 percent increase in the number of
automated records available to law enforcement.?
?Accurate, comprehensive records, which can be
shared across law enforcement agencies and jurisdictions, are a
cornerstone of our nation?s law enforcement efforts.? This? funding will permit
the continued development of the criminal records infrastructure, which is
being increasingly relied upon to provide a foundation for addressing public
safety concerns ranging from domestic violence to anti-terrorism,? said
Assistant Attorney General Deborah J. Daniels.
Complete, accurate and immediately accessible records
enable states to identify individuals with prior criminal records in any state;
identify individuals who have a history of domestic violence or stalking; more
effectively prevent felons and other prohibited persons from
purchasing a firearm; and check backgrounds of persons
responsible for child, elder and disabled care, and prospective employees in
occupations involving transportation safety or other sensitive jobs.
The awards announced today will allow states to
continue to automate their criminal records systems, as well as support
partnerships among federal, state and local law enforcement and government
agencies to share more complete criminal background data.? The funding will encourage more complete
participation in national programs maintained by the FBI to maintain registries
of sex offenders and databases designed to keep track of protection orders.? Every state and territory that
applied for Fiscal Year 2002 NCHIP funds received an award (See chart for a
state-by-state breakdown of funds).?
NCHIP awards are made to states agencies designated by
the governor.? All 50 states, the
District of Columbia and the territories, including Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S.
Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa, have received
NCHIP grants and technical assistance since 1995.? A list of projects undertaken by states with previous NCHIP
awards is contained on the OJP Website: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/nchip.htm.? Applicants must meet a 10 percent match
requirement in order to receive NCHIP funds.
Additional information about BJS, NCHIP or other OJP
programs can be found on the OJP Website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/.? Media calls should be directed to David Hess
in OJP?s Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at [email protected]
or 202-307-0703.
###
BJS02261
Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Statistics
National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP)
Fiscal Year 2002 Grant Awards to States, Territories
and the District of Columbia
STATE; RECIPIENT AGENCY ; STATE POINT OF CONTACT ; FY 2002 AWARD; TOTAL
NCHIP FUNDS TO DATE
?--Alabama; Criminal
Justice Information Center, Montgomery, Alabama; Roger Humber,
334/242-4937; $499,880; $5,028,004
?--Alaska; Department of Public
Safety, Anchorage, Alaska; Diane Schenker, 907/269-5092; $475,000; $5,276,318
?--American Samoa; Department of
Public Safety, Pago Pago, American Samoa; Lancaster D.P. Allen, 684/633-2827; $285,000;
$1,685,000
?--Arizona; Arizona Criminal
Justice Commission, Phoenix, Arizona; Gerald E. Hardt, 602/364-1146; $750,000; $6,618,988
?--Arkansas; Arkansas Crime
Information Center, Little Rock, Arkansas; Richard Thomas, 501/682-2222; $475,000;
$4,776,187
?--California; Bureau of
Criminal Identification & Information, Sacramento, California; Gary Cooper,
916/227-3857; $2,200,000; $29,884,094
?--Colorado; Colorado Department
of Public Safety, Denver, Colorado; Lance Clem, 303/239-4442; $485,000; $5,480,113
?--Connecticut; Office of Policy
& Management, Hartford, Connecticut; Theron A. Schnure, 860/418-6390; $518,000;
$5,880,968
?--Delaware; State Bureau of
Identification, Delaware State Police, Dover, Delaware; Captain David E.
Deputy, 302/739-5872; $475,000; $4,597,307
?--District of Columbia; Metropolitan
Police Department, Washington, DC; Mark Brinkman, 202/727-4295; $329,916; $2,484,011
?--Florida; Florida Department
of Law Enforcement, Tallahassee, Florida; Clayton Wilder, 850/410-8700; $1,369,000;
$14,373,273
?--Georgia; Georgia Crime
Information Center, Decatur, Georgia; J. William Holland, 404/244-2775; $691,628;
$8,137,724
?--Guam; Superior Court of Guam,
Hagatna, Guam; Jacqueline Zahnen, 671/475-3270; $285,000; $1,684,796
?--Hawaii; Hawaii Criminal
Justice Data Center, Department of the Attorney General, Honolulu, Hawaii; Liane
Moriyama, 808/587-3110; $500,000; $4,567,125
?--Idaho; Idaho State Police,
Meridian, Idaho; Robert Taylor, 208/884-7133; $170,000; $2,067,434
?--Illinois; Illinois Criminal
Justice Information Authority, Chicago, Illinois; Candice Kane, 312/793-8550; $1,284,000;
$14,598,000
?--Indiana; Indiana Criminal
Justice Institute , Indianapolis, Indiana; Kevin Sifferlen, 317/232-1233; $736,000;
$7,622,773
?--Iowa; Iowa Department of
Public Safety, Des Moines, Iowa; Steven Conlon, 515/281-5138; $420,620; $3,651,597
?--Kansas; Kansas Criminal
Justice Coordinating Council, Topeka, Kansas; Barbara Tombs, 785/296-0923; $475,000;
$4,467,678
?--Kentucky; Kentucky Justice Cabinet,
Frankfort, Kentucky; Kim Allen, 502/564-3251; $482,000; $5,473,497
?--Louisiana; Louisiana
Commission on Law Enforcement, Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Carle Jackson,
225/925-4440; $499,000; $5,720,885
?--Maine; Maine State Police,
Augusta, Maine; Lt. Colonel Jeffrey Harmon, 207/624-7060; $453,000; $4,674,166
?--Maryland; Department of
Public Safety & Correctional Services, Towson, Maryland; Alexius O. Bishop,
410/585-3158; $595,117; $6,778,079
?--Massachusetts; Massachusetts
Committee on Criminal Justice, Boston, Massachusetts; Michael J. O?Toole,
617/727-6300; $976,000; $11,099,012
?--Michigan; Michigan State
Police, Lansing, Michigan; David Turner, 517/322-1658; $881,382; $10,385,903
?--Minnesota; Department of
Public Safety, St. Paul, Minnesota; Debra Erdman, 651/296-5323; $502,000; $6,156,763
?--Mississippi; Department of
Public Safety, Jackson, Mississippi; Will Spann, 601/933-2600; $500,000; $5,342,796
?--Missouri; Missouri State
Highway Patrol, Jefferson City, Missouri; Captain Timothy McGrail, 573/526-6160;
$652,000; $7,627,648
?--Montana; Montana Board of
Crime Control, Helena, Montana; Don Crabbe, 406/444-2077; $475,341; $4,109,058
?--Nebraska; Nebraska State
Patrol, Lincoln, Nebraska; David Deshong, 402/479-4099; $616,825; $4,767,315
?--Nevada; Department of Motor
Vehicles and Public Safety, Carson City, Nevada; Sandy Mazy, 775/687-4166; $513,000;
$4,433,000
?--New Hampshire; New Hampshire
Department of Justice, Concord, New Hampshire; Mark Thompson, 603/271-3658; $476,996;
$4,832,244
?--New Jersey; Department of Law
& Public Safety, Trenton, New Jersey; Steven Talpas, 609/984-0634, ; $848,000;
$9,641,513
?--New Mexico; Department of
Public Safety, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Larry Austin, 505/476-9613; $555,998; $6,419,216
?--New York; Division of
Criminal Justice Services, Albany, New York; James Shea, 518/457-2418; $2,112,000;
$24,019,269
?--North Carolina; Department of
Public Safety & Crime Control, Raleigh, North Carolina; Doug Yearwood,
919/733-4564; $603,000; $6,855,151
?--North Dakota; Bureau of
Criminal Investigation, Bismarck, North Dakota; Robert J. Helten, 701/328-5500;
$475,824; $4,514,222
?--N. Mariana Islands; Criminal
Justice Planning Agency, Saipan, MP; Doris Pladevega, 670/664-4550; $285,000; $585,000
?--Ohio; Office of Criminal
Justice Services, Columbus, Ohio; Domingo S. Herraiz, 614/466-7782; $1,389,214;
$13,534,623
?--Oklahoma; Oklahoma District
Attorney?s Council, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; M. DeLynn Fudge, 405/264-5008; $475,000;
$4,355,878
?--Oregon; Department of State
Police, Salem, Oregon; Carmen Merlo, 503/378-3720; $122,861; $5,608,509
?--Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania
Commission on Crime & Delinquency, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; James Thomas,
717/787-2040; $1,322,000; $15,026,137
?--Puerto Rico; Puerto Rico
Department of Justice, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Roberto Martinez, 787/729-2121; Did
Not Apply; $1,112,436
?--Rhode Island; Governor?s
Justice Commission, Providence, Rhode Island; Gina Caruolo, 401/222-4499; $475,000;
$3,860,294
?--South Carolina; South
Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Columbia, South Carolina; Major Mark
Huguley, 803/896-7142; $822,000; $8,273,999
?--South Dakota; Office of the
Attorney General, Pierre, South Dakota; Judi Schneider, 605/773-4614; $488,156;
$3,625,232
?--Tennessee; Tennessee
Department of Finance & Administration, Nashville, Tennessee; Particia
Dishman, 615/532-2985; $531,000; $6,027,978
?--Texas; Criminal Justice
Policy Council, Austin, Texas; Tony Fabelo, 512/463-1810; $2,000,000; $20,041,275
?--Utah; Utah Commission on
Criminal & Juvenile Justice, Salt Lake City, Utah, ; Jennifer Hemenway,
801/538-1055; $475,600; $4,618,941
?--Vermont; State Department of
Public Safety, Waterbury, Vermont; Philip Colby, 802/244-8786; $609,688; $6,537,114
?--Virgin Islands; Law
Enforcement Planning Commission, St. Thomas, VI; Meredith Nielsen, 340/774-6400;
Did Not Apply; $503,157
?--Virginia; Virginia State
Police, Richmond, Virginia; Gunnar Kohlbeck, 804/674-2691; $1,203,182; $9,828,683
?--Washington; Office of
Financial Management, Olympia, Washington; Harold Nelson, 360/902-0603; $800,000;
$7,431,682
?--West Virginia; Department of
Military Affairs & Public Safety, Charleston, West Virginia; J. Norbert
Federspiel, 304/558-8814; $270,000; $4,822,986
?--Wisconsin; Wisconsin Office
of Justice Assistance, Madison, Wisconsin; Stephen Grohmann, 608/266-7185; $647,000;
$7,355,700
?--Wyoming; Division of Criminal
Investigation, Cheyenne, Wyoming; James Wilson, 307/777-7523; $285,000; $2,106,910
?--