Nancy E. Gist, Director

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Assistance

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OFF ICE OF JUSTICE PROGRAMS

BJA NI J OJJDP BJS OVC

FY 1999 State Identification Systems

Grants Program

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)

1998, BJA awarded $9.7 million in FBI-funded SIS

grants to eligible states. In FY 1999, $8.9 million is

available for award. The grants can be used to:

❑ Create computerized identification systems that are

compatible and integrated with databases of the FBI’s

National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

❑ Improve forensic laboratories’ ability to analyze

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in ways that are

compatible and integrated with the FBI’s Combined

DNA Index System (CODIS).

❑ 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

funding through 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 an 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 is 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 January 1,

1999, 50 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 U.S. 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,

if eligible, will divide the allocation of funds for that

state by a 67- and 33-percent share, respectively.
Distribution of Awards

The distribution of SIS funds in FY 1999 will be approximately $163,155* to each state that is awarded an

SIS grant. 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 may receive $109,314, and the Commonwealth

of Northern Mariana Islands may receive $53,841.

Administration of the SIS Program

In each state, the Governor designates a state agency to

administer the state’s SIS award. This agency assumes

responsibility for submitting the state’s application, selecting subrecipients to receive funds, disbursing funds,

and performing other administrative functions.

For Further 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:

Bureau of Justice Assistance

810 Seventh Street NW.

Washington, DC 20531

202–514–5947

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

Bureau of Justice Assistance Clearinghouse

P.O. 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 to be

placed 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.

FS 000241

April 1999

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Assistance

Washington, DC 20531

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use $300

PRESORTED STANDARD

POSTAGE & FEES PAID

DOJ/BJA

PERMIT NO. G–91

FY 1999 State Identification

Systems Grants Program Fact Sheet