National Instant Criminal Background - A SEARCH Information Paper

Microsoft Word - NICS Background Paper - DRAFT (August 2018).docx National Instant Criminal Background A SEARCH Information Paper Check System Background on SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics, is a SEARCH nonprofit organization governed by a Membership Group of governor appointees from the states and territories. [...] SEARCH Members operate the state criminal history record repository programs and related state criminal justice information systems, which are used to provide documented criminal history record information for criminal and civil background check screening and to assist regulatory agencies determine a person’s suitability to possess firearms, etc. [...] Instant Criminal The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintains the NICS to conduct Background background checks on individuals seeking to purchase firearms from Federal Check System Firearms Licensees (FFLs) or to obtain permits to possess, carry, or obtain (NICS) firearms. [...] 36 states and territories rely on the FBI for all firearms background checks.1 Which Databases During a NICS check, descriptive data such as name and date of birth are Are Examined used to search three national databases that contain criminal history and During a other relevant records to determine whether a person is disqualified from Background purchasing a firearm. [...] Which Federal There are two Federal grant programs that have funded state improvements Programs Fund to their criminal history record repositories, generally, and the NICS Improvements to specifically: the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) NICS? and the NICS Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP).