GEORGIA CRIME INFORMATION CENTER

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O R G A N I Z A T I O N A L
S T R U C T U R E

Paul Heppner, GCIC Deputy Director
Ronald W. Seay, Assistant Deputy Director of Computer Services
Terry D. Gibbons, Assistant Deputy Director of Information Services
Dr. J. William Holland, Assistant Deputy Director of Research & Development
George Emfinger, Assistant Deputy Director of Compliance/Customer Support
Charles A. Severs, Assistant Deputy Director of Security Operations

The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) is the chief provider of criminal justice information in the State of Georgia. With a staff of 139 employees, GCIC assists criminal justice agencies statewide by providing round-the-clock access to needed information.

AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT
IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM

During FY 99, 16 additional local law enforcement agencies began transmitting electronic criminal fingerprint images and data through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). A total of 31 agencies now submit arrest fingerprints electronically for their agencies and other agencies for which they provide booking services. Electronic transmissions represent 60 percent of the entire criminal fingerprint card processing workload. The average processing time for electronic transactions is 55 minutes. That time includes identification, update and creation of a computerized criminal history record, as well as remitting a response to the booking agency.

As part of the implementation of electronic submissions, GCIC began forwarding criminal identifications and updates to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Electronic Fingerprint Image Print Server (EFIPS). Transactions generated from local live scan agencies were routed to the FBI after processing through GCIC. Hard copy cards from transmissions were printed at the FBI and processed. This reduced the processing time at the FBI from approximately 60 days to eight days.

The processing of criminal and applicant fingerprint cards remained current throughout FY 99. From the time the card was received until the time the response was mailed to the requesting agency, it took an average processing time of 72 hours for criminal cards (manual submissions) and 82 hours for applicant cards.

Overall submissions of criminal fingerprint cards (including live scan transmissions) and applicant fingerprint cards increased, while overall submissions of final disposition reports decreased. FY 99 reflected an increase over FY 98 of 8.5 percent for criminal fingerprint cards and 8.1 percent for applicant fingerprint cards. Final disposition reports saw a decrease of 2.6 percent.

By the end of the fiscal year, GCIC maintained fingerprints and criminal history records on 2,075,001 individuals.

An additional 102,744 individuals were added to the Georgia computerized criminal history file during FY 99, which represents a 5.2 percent growth rate.

Also during the year, a total of 13,154 tenprint and latent print searches were initiated from AFIS remote terminals located throughout the state. These inquiries resulted in 3,098 tenprint hits and 552 latent hits.

AFIS remote sites include:

In FY 99, electronic updates of final disposition data were received from 120 courts, accounting for approximately 19 percent of the total number of dispositions reported to GCIC or via court automation software packages.

AFIS analysts completed 6,304 requests for special record reviews and corrections during the year. These requests came from law enforcement/criminal justice agencies, as well as private individuals requiring record updates or modifications to ensure complete and accurate records.

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T R A I N I N G

Along with its official duties, AFIS Operations personnel also provided 388 hours of training to 1,175 students in the areas of fingerprinting, the Offender Based Tracking System (OBTS) and Uniform Crime Reporting/Family Violence Act report completion and program requirements.

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U N I F O R M  C R I M E  R E P O R T I N G

The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program continued to provide crime and arrest statistics to law enforcement agencies, the governor, the General Assembly, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, county and city governments, as well as media representatives and the general public.

The statistics are collected from local agencies and then compiled in publications like "Crime in Georgia." UCR issued 903 special reports involving statistics.

The UCR program also keeps track of special Family Violence Act (FVA) incident reports. During FY 99, a total of 54,418 family violence incident reports were processed.

COMPUTER SERVICES

The Computer Services Section of GCIC provides internal support for all personal computers, hardware, software and networks at the GBI.

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C J I S  N E T W O R K

The Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Network, managed by GCIC, was supported by 6,544 terminals at the end of FY 99. Compared to 1998, the number of terminals connected to the network increased by 603. All but one Georgia county remains to be connected.

In FY 99, Computer Services:

n Processed and delivered 146 million messages throughout the year.

n Provided more than 1,121 hours of formal CJIS Network training to 3,265 criminal justice employees.

n Sponsored a conference for CJIS terminal agency coordinators.

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I N V E S T I G A T I V E  A S S I S T A N C E

During the fiscal year, GCIC received requests from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for computerized investigative support in more than 1,900 high priority cases. A total of 4,066 reports were produced as a result of these requests. GCIC also produced an additional 1,400 reports, detailing inquiries of CJIS databases in response to 676 requests for such assistance.

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C O M P U T E R  S U P P O R T

During FY 99, Year 2000 (Y2K) remediation was the number one priority of the Computer Services Section of GCIC. All CJIS UNISYS mainframe applications were changed and tested; Y2K versions were then placed in production. All personal computers and software that were not Y2K compliant also were updated.

Along with tackling Y2K issues, Computer Services also implemented the new NCIC 2000 system (National Crime Information Center) without any major problems. Major modifications were also made to the Georgia Firearms system and the Sex Offender Registry.

Adding to the section's busy schedule were routine calls for assistance. The help desk handled more than 2,700 calls.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Research & Development is responsible for major systems development, procurement and contract administration. In addition, the section develops grants and works with the law enforcement community to enhance automation and integration.

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A F I S  U P G R A D E

Two years ago, the State of Georgia executed a contract with the AFIS vendor to perform the work necessary to make AFIS Year 2000 compliant and to increase database capacity. During FY 99, all subsystems that comprised AFIS were either upgraded or replaced, with all components successfully passing the state's Y2K testing requirements.

All other contractual obligations will be fulfilled by the vendor during FY 2000, including the increase in database capacity and other features associated with identification, update and response times.

In addition, GCIC continued to lead the way in technology during FY 99, becoming one of the first states to submit all of its criminal fingerprints electronically to the FBI's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) network. The link to the national network, installed along with the AFIS upgrade, has resulted in a total turnaround time for electronic submissions of three hours, including both state and federal systems.

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C O U R T  A U T O M A T I O N

The court disposition automation effort continued during the fiscal year. As a result, 93 courts representing 59 Georgia counties now have full-automated court disposition reporting capabilities. Automated dispositions reduce the workload of manually processing the reports and frees resources to process delinquent dispositions.

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C J R I  P L A N

Research and Development also continued to implement the Georgia Criminal Justice Records Improvement (CJRI) Plan during FY 99. The goal of the plan is to improve the completeness and accuracy of the state's criminal justice records. So far, the state's current arrest records identify 95 percent of all felonies. All criminal history records are now automated and manual records also have been entered into the GCIC criminal history files. The implementation of the plan is funded by federal dollars, and will continue to be funded through FY 2000.

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N C H I P  G R A N T

During the fiscal year, the State of Georgia received a grant for $995,000 from the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) for an image archiving and retrieval system. The system, operated through GCIC, allows for the storage of mugshots and fingerprint images.

Through the design, development and implementation of a statewide imaging system, several purposes will be served. Fingerprints, mugshots and case dispositions will be stored in an archive database, replacing microfilm. More importantly, the state-of-the-art system will provide for rapid (electronic) dissemination of criminal history data. With the new system, local agencies will have the capability of transmitting and receiving images, as well as text data, in an expedited manner.

By linking and interfacing systems, the process of retrieving and submitting criminal history records will be dramatically improved. This will, in turn, encourage local law enforcement agencies to submit criminal history data from their respective areas.

With additional money needed to complete the implementation of the system, the state submitted a second grant in FY 99 requesting an extra $1,778,528.

FY 99: STATUS OF GRANTS

Advanced State Award Program (ASAP) Protection Order Registry

$249,910

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Live Scan Program

$452,517.63

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Remote Site Installations

$550,000

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Process Control and Embedded Chip Year 2000 Readiness Program

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Sexually Violent Offender Program

$500,000

AUDIT SECTION

During the past fiscal year, the Audit Section of GCIC continued several key programs targeting the security and quality of the Georgia Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Network and the improvement of Georgia's computerized criminal history record database. CJIS has proven to be a vital decision-making tool for criminal justice officials and other public and private users authorized by law.

The CJIS Network audit team is responsible for conducting biennial (two-year) audits of all agencies operating CJIS Network terminals. With a network of more than 1,200 agency sites, the FBI-imposed biennial requirement remains a critical issue. FY 99 was the first year of the two-year audit cycle. The auditing will continue in FY 2000.

Throughout the year, the Audit Section:

n Processed and delivered 146 million messages.

n Provided more than 1,121 hours of formal CJIS Network training to 3,265 criminal justice employees.

n Conducted 535 compliance audits.

n Covered more than 50,000 road miles.

n Provided more than 200 hours of training in CJIS related matters.

Two remaining programs are federally funded through the Edward Byrne Program for Criminal History Record Improvement.

The first of the two programs ensures that criminal justice agencies are in compliance with state laws on fingerprinting of arrestees and the submission of final disposition reports. The second program involves research of local criminal records for information on previously unreported final disposition reports (Georgia Code Section 35-3-36).

In conjunction with the programs, two three-person teams conducted 263 fingerprinting/ disposition reporting audits. The audits disclosed varied levels of compliance with reporting requirements, and generated a number of request for training on fingerprinting and the reporting of final dispositions. However, training needs were handled by GCIC/AFIS personnel.

As a result of the teams' hard work:

n A total of 12,028 previously unreported dispositions for felony charges were completed through research of 18,168 local criminal justice records during the reporting year.

n More than 50,051 road miles were consumed by members of these teams in pursuit of their job assignments.

During the second half of FY 99, a special audit team was appointed to conduct an audit of the crime-reporting practices of the Atlanta Police Department (APD). The department was accused of askewed crime reporting and statistics. The six-month project involved 15 GCIC employees. The claims were determined to be unfounded. The audit team recommended that APD employees undergo further FBI training on compiling statistics.

FIREARMS PROGRAM

The Georgia Firearms Program provides instant background checks on persons wishing to purchase firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers. The checks ensure that people who are banned from owning guns by state and federal laws are unable to purchase them. The program is the result of provisions outlined in Georgia law and the federal Brady Act.

The Georgia Firearms Program experienced a dramatic increase in the number of instant background checks beginning Nov, 30, 1998, when the final provisions of the Brady Act went into effect. These provisions required a National Instant Background Check System (NICS) on all firearms purchased, including both handguns and long guns. The NICS program searches federal databases for offenses that prohibit the possession of firearms. The background check also includes a search of whether a potential buyer has been subject to a dishonorable discharge from the military, has renounced his/her citizenship, is an illegal immigrant, or has been hospitalized for mental illnesses or drug problems.

During FY 99, the Firearms Program processed 172,149 firearms instant background checks from federally licensed firearms dealers-twice the amount of checks processed in previous years. The Firearms Program is operational six days a week from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. and from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sundays. The office is closed on Christmas Day.

Instant background checks resulted in the approval of 160,587 (93 percent) firearms sales. Approximately 89,929 (56 percent) were approved instantly with no further action required.

Envoy Automated Licensing Systems of Nashville, Tenn. provides an on-line instant background service to firearms dealers who sell large volumes of guns. The service, known as VeriFAX, allows dealers to submit and receive information on potential buyers without using the assistance of Firearms Program operators. VeriFAX is proven beneficial in saving time and expense for the dealers and the GBI.

During FY 99, VeriFAX processed 56,611 transactions. The service cost the firearms program $163,043.50, or approximately $2.88 per transaction.

FY 99: FIREARMS PROGRAM ACTIVITY
(Fiscal Year runs from July 1 to June 30)