DIRECTOR'S COMMENTS Milton E. Nix, Jr.

Governor Roy Barnes
Members of the Georgia General Assembly
Board of Public Safety
Citizens of Georgia

Continued progress defined Fiscal Year 2001 for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Technological advancements on several fronts enhanced the quality of services the GBI provides to the law enforcement community.

Most notable during FY01 was the expansion of the state’s DNA database or CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) to include DNA profiles from all convicted felons statewide. Georgia became the eighth state to amend its offender laws due to legislation approved by the Georgia General Assembly in the spring of 2000. Prior to the addition of felon profiles, only convicted sexual offenders were required to submit DNA to the database. In July of 2001, the Forensic Biology Section of the crime lab began inputting felon profiles into CODIS, and the impact has been phenomenal. CODIS is aiding law enforcement in solving cold cases and is making case-to-case associations in Georgia and in other states.

Technology also is enhancing the way the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) disseminates criminal history information to law enforcement. Sixty-seven percent of police and sheriff’s offices are now submitting fingerprints electronically, and within 10 minutes, GCIC has conducted a database query and returned its findings to the booking agency.

As always, the Investigative Division continued to provide quality support to the law enforcement community during FY01. Special agents expended 369,000 hours investigating general crime and drug-related offenses. Our drug enforcement offices and multi-jurisdictional task forces seized more than $17 million worth of contraband.

It is with great pride that I submit to you the 2001 Annual Report for the GBI. The information provided in this report represents the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001. On behalf of the GBI and its employees, thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Milton E. Nix, Jr.
Director