The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) is the chief provider of criminal justice information in the state of Georgia. With a staff of 132 employees, GCIC assists criminal justice agencies statewide by providing round-the-clock access to needed information.

AFIS OPERATIONS

Electronic Submissions

During FY01, 19 additional local law enforcement agencies began transmitting electronic criminal and applicant fingerprint images and data through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) livescan and card scan devices. A total of 54 agencies now submit arrest and applicant fingerprints electronically for their respective agencies and others for which they provide booking and applicant services.

Of all the criminal fingerprint cards received, 67 percent were transmitted electronically. In addition, five percent of applicant cards were sent by way of computer. The average processing time for electronic transactions is 10 minutes. This includes identification, update, or creation of a computerized criminal history record, transmission of responses to the booking agency, and where applicable, electronic submission to the FBI.

Remote Access

The following 18 local agencies access and search the state's fingerprint database via an AFIS Remote fingerprint workstation:

A total of 10,994 tenprint and latent print searches were initiated from these AFIS remote terminals located throughout the state. These inquiries resulted in 1,670 tenprint hits and 874 latent hits.

The processing of criminal and applicant fingerprint cards remained current throughout FY01, with an average processing time of 48 hours for criminal cards (manual fingerprint submissions) and 72 hours for applicant cards. Processing time for applicant cards is calculated from the time the card was received at GCIC until the time the Georgia response was mailed to the requesting agency. These turnaround times ensure a timely creation or up-date of Georgia computerized criminal history records or response to civil background checks.

Throughout FY01, submissions of criminal fingerprint cards (including livescan transmissions) decreased slightly while submissions of applicant fingerprint cards and final disposition reports increased. FY01 reflected a slight decrease over FY00 of 0.7 percent for criminal fingerprint cards and an increase of 10 percent for final disposition reports.

FY01 submissions of applicant cards increased by 38.5 percent over FY00.

CRIMINAL HISTORY

Georgia’s current Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system is 35 years old and utilizes obsolete software and an outdated database schema. Redesign is essential to move the system to a new platform with graphical interfaces and a relational database. The upgrade will increase ease of access and use, provides greater flexibility in retrieval and presentation of data, and allows for more effective and efficient processing.

In redesigning the state's CCH system the goal is to provide a faster and more user friendly system to users in the field, including patrol officers, prosecuting attorneys and judges.

With the redesign of the state's core CCH system, new more sophisticated on-call linkages that allow for faster, flexible retrieval of related critical information will be implemented. These linkages will include the sharing of fingerprint and mugshot images based upon existing national standards. Fingerprints that meet national standards are already stored and are available through the state's Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and its linked Image Archive System. The system also has the capability to store mugshots using the national standard. Both systems are already linked to the current CCH system and will pose little problem in moving their linkages to the more advanced core CCH system of the future.

Finally, the use of a relational database scheme along with complete redesign of the system will further the current efforts for automated submission of data as a by-product of regular criminal justice operations. Already 67 percent of criminal fingerprint cards in the state are submitted electronically as a by-product of the booking process.

In addition, there is an on-going effort through the Council of Superior Court Clerks to provide data to the state's CCH system in an electronic mode. The redesign of the core CCH will make implementation of automated submission and update more effective by improving the ability to electronically link arrest, disposition and correctional data at the individual charge level.

Court Automation

GCIC continues to be heavily involved with court disposition automation. As a result of these efforts, 116 courts representing 65 counties in Georgia now have automated court disposition reporting capabilities. In addition, GCIC is working with the Superior Court Clerk's Authority to automate court disposition data from all of the 159 Superior Court Clerk's offices.

GCIC also has worked with Fulton County and the City of Atlanta in a cooperative effort to develop an integrated automated disposition reporting system. This system "ties" together all case disposing agencies (i.e. courts, prosecutors and clerks) in the city of Atlanta and Fulton County and automates a process that is currently manual in nature.

The Automated Case Disposition System project consists of three phases. Phase I, which has been completed and is in operation, creates an internal network between the superior and municipal courts and an external network for the submission of final disposition data to GCIC. At present, electronic dispositions are being successfully submitted to GCIC from Fulton County. Phase II is being implemented and will automate the Offender Based Tracking System (OBTS) and expand transmission capabilities from other courts within the Fulton County jurisdiction to GCIC.

Automated dispositions reduce the workload on the manual disposition processing efforts and free up resources to help process the delinquent disposition workload.

All of the automation efforts mentioned above contribute to increasing the percentage of felony arrests with convictions. In addition, automation has created greater accountability in terms of disposition reporting on individual charges.

Image Archive

The GBI awarded the Image Archive System contract in July 2000. The system was fully implemented in June 2001. The final acceptance test for the Image Archive System was completed in July 2001. The Image Archive System provides a more rapid (electronic) dissemination of data to Georgia's criminal justice community. The Image Archive System has the capability to capture, store, retrieve, display, and print detailed fingerprint images, mugshot images, and disposition data. This system has replaced the microfilm process.

The Image Archive System meets the American National Standard Institute Standard and Technology (ANSI/NIST) criteria for the interchange of fingerprint, facial scars, marks and tattoos.

In addition, the Image Archive System is linked to the GBI's Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). Currently, there are more than 50,000 images stored within the system. The number of images on file represents only images processed since the system became operational in July 2001.

CHH Operations

At the close of FY01, GCIC maintained fingerprint and criminal history records on 2,288,681 individuals. An additional 101,097 individuals were added to the Georgia computerized criminal history file, which represents a 4.6 percent growth rate.

Additionally, 852,930 CCH records were updated with subsequent arrests or disposition information.

CCH Specialists completed 13,142 requests for special record reviews and corrections during the year. These requests came from law enforcement/criminal justice agencies as well as attorneys and private individuals requiring record update or modification to ensure complete and accurate records.

A total of 1,256,525 Georgia CCH records were disseminated via the CJIS network to in state and out-of- state criminal justice agencies.

CJIS OPERATIONS

During FY01, 7,700 Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) network terminals processed more than 147 million messages in support of criminal justice agencies within Georgia, the nation and around the world. While maintaining normal network operations, GCIC, along with its CJIS customers, began implementing plans to upgrade all data connections to TCP/IP protocol. This is critical for utilizing enhanced capabilities of NCIC 2000, a major information technology initiative of the GBI and the FBI.

During the year, GCIC staff worked closely with terminal agency coordinators (TACs) and other personnel as agencies began to plan for system upgrades. GCIC regularly provided information to customers as needed through seminars around the state with data processing personnel, law enforcement personnel and members of the National Emergency Numbers Association (NENA).

The CJIS network had availability in excess of 99.8 percent during FY01.

NCIC 2000 Project

In September 2000, plans and a detailed implementation schedule were completed for the NCIC 2000 Project. A team representing all relevant GCIC work groups was established to ensure that an FBI mandated deadline of January 1, 2003, is met. All Georgia agencies must convert from current protocols to TCP/IP prior to the deadline. Project work groups have been busy in areas of infrastructure and connectivity, documentation and testing, data security, technical audit development and training.

Once NCIC 2000 is fully implemented, users will have access to many new system functions, such as persons on supervised release, a federal prisoner index, and on-line manuals. NCIC 2000 formats will have new fields, including those for caution and medical conditions, as well as court identifying numbers. Fields for hazardous materials information also will be added.

In addition, NCIC 2000 also has the ability to accept, store, and retrieve digital images, such as mugshots, fingerprints, signatures, identifying photographs (scars, tattoos, vehicles, boats, parts, etc.), and generic photographs for identification of property. To utilize the imaging capability, agencies must purchase an NCIC 2000 workstation for connection to the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) network.

Agreements with the Georgia Technology Authority to continue ordering and installing new data circuits and routers to support the IP protocol have been established. In the area of data security, a working agreement is being put in place with the Georgia Tech Research Institute to provide planning and guidance for security requirements. The GCIC CJIS Policy Manual has been revised along with over half of the GCIC CJIS Operations Manual. Testing of communications connectivity and data screens is also underway.

Sexually Violent Offender Registry

The Georgia Sexually Violent Offender (SVO) Registry was enacted by the 1996 Georgia General Assembly and became operational during FY97. As a public service, the GBI Web page was launched on the Internet in FY98. The SVO registry portion of the Web site received more than 3,046,278 hits during FY01.

Protective Order Registry

In May 1997, the FBI installed a National Protection Order file, and GCIC implemented the programs to access and update this federal file.

During the 2001 session of the Georgia General Assembly, a bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Barnes. This law, O.C.G.A. 19-13-50, was effective July 1, 2001, and gives GCIC the authority to develop and operate a state Protective Order Registry. This registry will enhance protectee's safety by providing law enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys, and the courts with access to protective orders issued by Georgia courts and courts in other states and jurisdictions.

Once operational, the Georgia Protective Order Registry will be a Web-based system that tracks protective orders. The registry will be populated with images and NCIC data scanned into the system by Georgia's superior court clerks. The documents and data will then be electronically transmitted to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority Server and then transferred to GCIC. GCIC will create and maintain the protective order database that contains images of orders, indexes to images and NCIC update flags.

Victim's Notification Information System

The Victim's Notification Information System (VNIS) will be a fully automated system developed to notify all registered victims of any changes in the offender's custodial status. Notification is initiated by an automated call to the phone number or e-mail address provided by the victim when one of the following custody changes occur to the offender: release from imprisonment, transfer to work release, release on extended furlough, mandatory release upon expiration of sentence, escape from confinement, or death.

In addition to providing victim notification, the system also will function as a Jail Locator Index Record System (JLIRS). After the offender is booked into a local jail, entries of Georgia warrant files will check the JLIRS prior to entry to determine if the subject of the warrant is already in jail. This capability will prevent the entry of warrants for offenders who are already in jail. The Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) is currently reviewing the RFP for VNIS.

FIREARMS PROGRAM

Instant Check

The Georgia Firearms Program provides instant background checks on persons wishing to purchase firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers pursuant to Georgia law and provisions of the federal "Brady Act". Background checks ensure that persons prohibited by either state or federal laws are barred from the purchase of firearms. The program is operational seven days a week.

The Firearms Program processed 207,221 firearms instant background checks from federally licensed firearm dealers during FY01. This represents a 12.8 percent decrease in volume over the transactions processed in FY00. Instant background checks resulted in 197,682 or 95.4 percent of the checks being approved for firearm sales. Of these checks, the firearms program approved 132,769 or 64 percent instantly, requiring no further action.

Envoy Automated Licensing Systems of Nashville, Tenn. through its VeriFAX program, provides an online instant background check service to large volume firearms dealers in Georgia. This service allows firearms dealers to enter and receive the same information they would receive from a firearms program operator without going through the operator, saving both the firearms dealer and the firearms program time and expense. During FY01, VeriFAX processed 109,311 transactions or 53 percent of the total number of transactions.

Forcible Felon Notification Program

A 2000 amendment to O.C.G.A. 16-11-131 made it a felony for any person convicted of a forcible felony or on probation for a first offender felony to attempt to purchase a firearm. Subsequently, in January 2001, GCIC implemented procedures to notify local law enforcement authorities when the Georgia Firearms Program, through an instant background check, determines that a person convicted of a forcible felony has attempted to purchase a firearm.

Within four to eight hours of a final determination that a potential purchaser is disqualified from buying a gun because of a forcible felony conviction (or first offender probation), GCIC sends an “Administrative Message” via the CJIS network to the county sheriff and city police chief of the jurisdiction in which the attempted purchase occurred. Copies of this message are sent to the district attorney and probation or parole office (if appropriate for individuals currently on probation or parole as identified by the Department of Corrections' Offender Status file). This message contains information on the subject and location of the federal firearms dealer where the attempt occurred. Information is provided for possible criminal investigation and/or any further law enforcement action deemed appropriate.

Since January 2001, GCIC has disseminated 276 messages regarding convicted forcible felons who attempted to purchase a firearm. Fourteen individuals were on active probation and one was on active parole. Law enforcement agencies have advised that 34 arrests have been made for attempt to purchase and/or possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING

The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program continued to provide crime and arrest statistics to local law enforcement agencies, to the governor and General Assembly, to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, to county and municipal officials, to media representatives and to interested citizens through the publication of "Crime in Georgia 2000" and 321 special reports.
The UCR program also collects special Family Violence Act (FVA) incident reports. During FY01, a total of 50,418 family violence incident reports were processed.

COMPLIANCE AUDITS

The CJIS Audit Unit is responsible for performance audits of Georgia criminal justice member agencies to the Georgia CJIS network. State and federal regulations mandate each CJIS network agency is audited biennially. Audits assess compliance with state and federal laws and regulations dealing with the access, dissemination and control of criminal justice information.

During FY01, a total of 614 audits were completed. The reporting period marks the end of the first year of the current audit cycle. Audit cycle target sites total 1,088 agencies. The unit is therefore on track for successful audit cycle completion. GCIC regards CJIS audits as powerful working tools for heads of audited agencies and opportunities for partnerships with GCIC to strengthen local agency operations, thereby serving the public at large.

In addition, this unit coordinated all activities pertinent to a biennial audit of GCIC and selected local agencies by the FBI. GCIC is subject to biennial audits by the FBI. The current FBI audit found no major discrepancies in GCIC operations.

CJIS Audits: A GCIC compliance auditor (center) reviews records with employees at a local law enforcement office to ensure that the use of the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) network is in compliance with state and federal regulations.

The Byrne Operations Unit operates two programs that serve to augment the quality and completeness of the Georgia Computerized Criminal History (CCH) database, managed by GCIC. An audit program assesses local agencies' completion and submission of arrestee fingerprint cards and final disposition reports to GCIC. The second unit component involves research of local agency criminal justice records to obtain previously unreported final dispositions to arrestee fingerprint cards reported to GCIC. The need for final dispositions for arrestee information has never been more important. The value of complete criminal records is key in areas such as the Georgia Firearms Program, public and private employment, as well as assessments by criminal justice practitioners making decisions on the prosecution of criminal cases. During this reporting period, the Byrne Unit processed 408 fingerprint/disposition reporting audits and located 13,827 final disposition reports after researching 35,531 local criminal record files.

Customer Support

The Customer Support Unit has responsibility for training and other customer support needs for more than 2,100 criminal justice agencies. The unit handles such training programs as terminal agency coordinator (TAC) schools; security and integrity of criminal justice information; training on criminal records creation and administration; fingerprinting; Uniform Crime Reporting; use of the CJIS network; and all other GCIC operational programs and services. This unit is also the core planning resource for the annual conference for CJIS network terminal agency coordinators. More than 800 criminal justice practitioners attended the 2000 conference held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Also during FY01, GCIC personnel provided 2,047 hours of training to 8,145 criminal justice practitioners.

The GCIC training coordinator is responsible for external training coordination and interfaces with the network of regional police academies and the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council.

In May 2001, the Customer Support Unit began a major project to install a security program at CJIS network sites known as "Operator ID/Password". This program records the identification of each person interacting with the CJIS network. It also ties to anniversary dates for terminal operation (training) recertification, required biennially by the FBI. This program is a core adjunct to the rollout of NCIC 2000. Since May, the Operator ID/Password program has been installed in 46 CJIS network sites.

ADVISORY POLICY BOARD

During FY00, a new GCIC Advisory Policy Board was established to ensure that the decisions on the NCIC 2000 project reflect the needs of GCIC's users. The board is comprised of well-informed, experienced users who make recommendations on all aspects of the project. Currently, the board is concentrating solely on the NCIC 2000 project. Later its responsibilities will expand to support all aspects of GCIC's user programs.

SECURITY OPERATIONS

During FY'00, the GBI contracted with SecurityLink, Inc. to replace an existing, non-Y2K compliant access control system at GBI headquarters in Decatur.

The chosen system is among the most advanced available. The system provides a workstation for guard monitoring of all doors and alarms, a workstation for producing combination employee identification/access control badges, and an administrative workstation for monitoring system performance as well as producing audit and management reports.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTEGRATION INITIATIVE

GCIC is actively involved in the development of a plan and process to integrate and improve the sharing of criminal justice data among local, state and federal agencies. A strategic plan has been approved that provides a framework for the coordination of an integrated statewide criminal justice information effort where accurate, precise and comprehensive criminal justice information is collected, processed, shared and evaluated in a timely manner.
Currently, work is being conducted to develop a standard data dictionary that will guide future state and local system development efforts. The definitions contained in the data dictionary will be based on national criminal justice standards for data and image exchange and will incorporate these and any other standards required for development of information systems.