FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | BJA | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1999 | 202/307-0703 |
50 STATES RECEIVE $8.9 MILLION TO
IMPROVE THEIR COMPUTERIZED IDENTIFICATION AND DNA SYSTEMS
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) today awarded more than $163,000 to each of the 50 states to help them develop or improve their computerized identification systems and integrate those systems with the FBI's national identification databases. The funds can also be used to improve forensic laboratories' ability to analyze DNA in ways that are compatible with the FBI's Combined DNA Index System.
The State Identification Systems (SIS) program, authorized by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, is administered by BJA with funding provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
"One of the most critical collaborative efforts BJA and the FBI have undertaken to make local and state law enforcement, prosecutorial, court, and corrections agencies more effective is the improvement and integration of information systems," said BJA Director Nancy Gist. "With improved information systems and enhanced DNA analysis, we will be able to more accurately identify offenders and bring them to justice faster and more effectively."
States may use SIS grants for equipment, supplies, training or educational expenses, modifications to space to accommodate equipment, contractor-provided services to address backlog or program implementation issues, and state and local expenses.
To be eligible, a state must have a law in place requiring all persons convicted of a felony sex offense to provide appropriate state law enforcement officials with a DNA sample for analysis. Presently, all 50 states have such laws in effect. The five territories or the District of Columbia are not eligible for this program.
The SIS program will enhance a state's ability to become fully integrated with the databases of the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS).
BJA provides leadership and support on crime and violence prevention and works in partnership with state and local governments to make communities safe and to improve criminal justice systems. In addition, BJA develops and tests new approaches in criminal justice and crime control, and encourages replication of effective programs and practices by state and local criminal justice agencies.
To obtain additional information on BJA and its programs, you can access the agency's homepage at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bja. For additional information about the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) or its bureaus and programs, visit the OJP Website at www.ojp.usdoj.gov. Media should contact OJP's Office of Congressional and Public Affairs at 202/307-0703.
Attached is a list of the 1999 State Identification Systems grant recipients.
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BJA 99-162
FY 1999 STATE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS FORMULA GRANT ALLOCATIONS
STATE | AMOUNT | STATE | AMOUNT |
ALABAMA | 163,156 | NEVADA | 163,155 |
ALASKA | 163,155 | NEW HAMPSHIRE | 163,155 |
ARIZONA | 163,156 | NEW JERSEY | 163,156 |
ARKANSAS | 163,155 | NEW MEXICO | 163,155 |
CALIFORNIA | 163,156 | NEW YORK | 163,156 |
COLORADO | 163,156 | NORTH CAROLINA | 163,156 |
CONNECTICUT | 163,155 | NORTH DAKOTA | 163,155 |
DELAWARE | 163,155 | OHIO | 163,156 |
DIST OF COLUMBIA | 163,155 | OKLAHOMA | 163,155 |
FLORIDA | 163,156 | OREGON | 163,155 |
GEORGIA | 163,156 | PENNSYLVANIA | 163,156 |
HAWAII | 163,155 | RHODE ISLAND | 163,155 |
IDAHO | 163,155 | SOUTH CAROLINA | 163,155 |
ILLINOIS | 163,156 | SOUTH DAKOTA | 163,155 |
INDIANA | 163,156 | TENNESSEE | 163,156 |
IOWA | 163,155 | TEXAS | 163,156 |
KANSAS | 163,155 | UTAH | 163,155 |
KENTUCKY | 163,156 | VERMONT | 163,155 |
LOUISIANA | 163,156 | VIRGINIA | 163,156 |
MAINE | 163,155 | WASHINGTON | 163,156 |
MARYLAND | 163,156 | WEST VIRGINIA | 163,155 |
MASSACHUSETTS | 163,156 | WISCONSIN | 163,156 |
MICHIGAN | 163,156 | WYOMING | 163,155 |
MINNESOTA | 163,156 | AM. SAMOA/
N. MARIANA* |
163,155 |
MISSISSIPPI | 163,155 | GUAM | 163,155 |
MISSOURI | 163,156 | PUERTO RICO | 163,156 |
MONTANA | 163,155 | VIRGIN ISLANDS | 163,155 |
NEBRASKA | 163,155 | ||
TOTAL ALLOCATIONS | $8,973,551 |
*American Samoa (67%): $109,314; Northern Mariana Islands (33%): $53,841.