FY 1997 State Identification Systems Grants Program .
Series: BJA Fact Sheet
Published: April 1997
3 pages
10,386 bytes

FY 1997 State Identification Systems Grants Program


Nancy E. Gist, Director

U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Justice Programs
Bureau of Justice Assistance

Of the many collaborative efforts the Bureau of
Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) have undertaken to make local
and State law enforcement, prosecutorial, court,
and corrections agencies more effective, one of the
most critical is the improvement and integration of
information systems that those agencies can use to
identify and prosecute offenders. 

This fact sheet describes the State Identification
Systems (SIS) grants program, established to give
States the resources to develop or improve their
computerized identification systems and integrate
those systems with the FBI's national
identification databases. In fiscal year (FY) 1997,
BJA will award $9.5 million in FBI-funded SIS
grants to eligible States. The grants can be used
to:

o Create computerized identification systems that
are compatible and integrated with databases of the
FBI's National Crime Information Center.

o Improve forensic laboratories' ability to analyze
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in ways that are
compatible and integrated with the FBI's Combined
DNA Identification System (CODIS). 

o Develop automated fingerprint systems that are
compatible and integrated with the FBI's Integrated
Automated Fingerprint Identification System
(IAFIS).

Use of SIS Funds

States may use SIS grants for equipment, supplies,
training or educational expenses, modifications to
space to accommodate equipment, contractor-provided
services to address backlog or program
implementation issues, and State and local
personnel expenses if personnel are devoted to a
qualifying identification project.

SIS grants may be used by States in conjunction
with local government agencies or with other States
in any combination. States are not required,
however, to pass through funding to local agencies.
In addition, States may enter into compacts with
other States to carry out the grants. The Federal
share of funds for a State's program may cover 100
percent of its costs. There is no match
requirement.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible to receive a SIS grant, a State must
require each person convicted of a felony of a
sexual nature to provide a sample of blood, saliva,
or other specimen to appropriate State law
enforcement officials, as designated by the State's
chief executive officer. The specimen will be used
to conduct a DNA analysis consistent with the
standards established for DNA testing by the
director of the FBI. According to the FBI, as of
March 1997, 44 States meet this requirement.

For purposes of the SIS program, the term "State"
designates any State of the United States as well
as the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa,
Guam, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana
Islands. However, American Samoa and the
Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands are
considered one State and will divide the allocation
of funds for that State by a 67 and 33 percent
share, respectively. 

Distribution of Awards

SIS funds appropriated in FY 1997 will be awarded
in the following manner:

o Each State awarded a SIS grant will receive
approximately $172,727.*

o Any remaining funds will be allocated to each
State on the basis of its population compared to
the population of all States. 

Any grant funds that cannot be awarded in any
fiscal year will be carried forward to the next
fiscal year and added to the total appropriated by
Congress for the program.

* American Samoa will receive $115,727, and the
Northern Mariana Islands will receive $57,000.

Administration of the SIS Program

In each State, the Governor will designate a State
agency to administer the State's SIS award. This
agency will assume responsibility for submitting
the State's application, selecting subrecipients to
receive funds, disbursing funds, and performing
other administrative functions.

For More Information

BJA provides a variety of publications and
materials on efforts to improve the criminal
justice system at the Federal, State, and local
levels. To order publications or to find out more
about BJA programs, contact these offices:

Bureau of Justice Assistance Clearinghouse
Box 6000
Rockville, MD 20849-6000
Tel: 1-800-688-4252
World Wide Web: http://www.ncjrs.org

Clearinghouse staff are available Monday through
Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. eastern time. Ask them
to place you on the BJA mailing list.

U.S. Department of Justice Response Center
1-800-421-6770 or 202-307-1480

Response Center staff are available Monday through
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time.

BJA World Wide Web Home Page
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA

FS000175
April 1997