FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division

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Aerial shot of the CJIS building in Clarksburg, West Virginia in 2009

FBI Criminal Justice Information Services Division

FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division is a high-tech hub situated in the heart of West Virginia. Established in 1992, the division is a crucial component of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), tasked with providing state-of-the-art information technology solutions to enhance, and expedite law enforcement, national security, and intelligence community operations. The CJIS Division's mission is to equip the law enforcement, national security, and intelligence community partners with the criminal justice information they need to protect the United States while preserving civil liberties.

History

The inception of the CJIS Division was driven by the need for a centralized source of criminal justice information that could be easily accessed by various branches of law enforcement and authorized organizations across the country. Its establishment aimed to support the FBI's mission by providing accurate, timely, and secure information. Over the years, the division has evolved with advancements in technology, expanding its services and capabilities to meet the growing demands of the criminal justice community.

Key Services and Programs

The CJIS Division offers a plethora of services and programs designed to support the law enforcement community. Some of its key services include:

• National Crime Information Center (NCIC): A computerized index of criminal justice information including criminal record history information, fugitives, stolen properties, and missing persons. It is available to federal, state, and local law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

• Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS): This is the largest biometric database in the world, containing the fingerprints and criminal histories of over 70 million subjects in the criminal master file. IAFIS provides automated fingerprint search capabilities, latent searching capability, electronic image storage, and electronic exchange of fingerprints and responses.

• Next Generation Identification (NGI): An incremental upgrade to the IAFIS, providing advanced biometric identification and information analysis services. This includes facial recognition, iris scans, and the ability to process and analyze more biometric data for security purposes.

• Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program: A nationwide, cooperative statistical effort of nearly 18,000 city, university and college, county, state, tribal, and federal law enforcement agencies voluntarily reporting data on crimes brought to their attention.

• National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS): Used by Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to instantly determine via telephone or computer whether the transfer of a firearm would be in violation of federal law.

Challenges and Controversies

Like any large-scale government operation, the CJIS Division has faced its share of challenges and controversies, particularly concerning privacy and civil liberties. The balance between national security and individual privacy rights is a constant debate in the operation of criminal justice information systems. The division works within the framework of laws and regulations designed to protect individual privacy while ensuring the safety and security of the public.

Future Directions

The CJIS Division continues to evolve, with ongoing projects aimed at enhancing the capabilities of its services and programs. This includes the development of more advanced biometric technologies, improvements in data sharing and interoperability among law enforcement agencies, and initiatives to ensure the security and integrity of the information it manages.

See Also

• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Law Enforcement
• National Security