OVERVIEW

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched the Tribal Access Program for National Crime 

Information (TAP) in August 2015 to provide selected federally recognized Tribes access to national crime 

information systems for federally authorized criminal and non-criminal purposes. TAP allows Tribes to 

more effectively serve and protect their nation’s citizens by ensuring the exchange of critical data across the 

Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) systems and other national crime information systems.

FUNCTIONS

DOJ SERVES AS THE CJIS SYSTEMS 

AGENCY (CSA) FOR SELECTED 

FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES

DOJ assumes responsibility for granting 

network access, extending the model used 

by federal agencies to Tribes. DOJ ensures 

personnel, IT, and physical security; 

vetting and on-boarding; testing; training; 

and auditing.

DOJ PROVIDES TWO SOLUTIONS: 

TAP-LIGHT AND TAP-FULL

TAP-LIGHT provides agencies with the 

ability to conduct name-based record 

checks and enter person and property 

information, while TAP-FULL also 

provides the additional hardware necessary 

to conduct fingerprint-based criminal and 

non-criminal justice transactions.

DOJ PROVIDES ENHANCED 

TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE

TAP provides online and on-site 

training and assists Tribes in analyzing 

needs and identifying/providing 

appropriate solutions to maximize the 

value of national crime information.

NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION SYSTEMS

National Crime Information Center (NCIC) – a criminal 

records database allowing criminal justice agencies to enter or search 

for information about stolen property, missing or wanted persons, 

and domestic violence protection orders; to get criminal histories; 

and to access the National Sex Offender Registry.

Next Generation Identification (NGI) – formerly known as the 

Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) – 

a database of palm and fingerprints and mugshots, allowing 

verification of identity, submissions of arrest information, and 

access to fingerprint-based criminal histories. 

National Data Exchange (N-DEx) – a national investigative 

information sharing system giving access to records from across the 

nation to aid in criminal investigations. Investigators can review 

criminal justice data from state, local, Tribal, regional, and federal 

agencies, 24/7, from any secure Internet-capable device. Data 

includes incident reports, arrest reports, booking and incarceration 

reports, pre-trial investigations, and probation and parole records. 

National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) – 

a system used by Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to determine a 

person’s eligibility to buy firearms or explosives, helping to ensure 

prohibited persons are prevented from purchasing firearms, and to 

issue firearms-related permits, and manage seized firearms.

Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal (LEEP) – a gateway for 

criminal justice agencies to access unclassified law enforcement 

intelligence products, as well as systems or services such as N-DEx, 

Intelink, the Regional Information Sharing Systems Network 

(RISSNET), National Gang Intelligence Center, eGuardian, Virtual 

Command Center, and others.

International Justice and Public Safety Network (Nlets) – 

an interstate justice and public safety network owned by the states 

supporting inquiry into state systems for criminal history, driver’s 

license and motor vehicle registration, as well as supporting inquiry 

into federal systems, such as the Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Law 

Enforcement Support Center, the Drug Enforcement Administration 

(DEA) National Drug Pointer Index (NDPIX), and the Federal 

Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Registry, as well as the 

Government of Canada’s Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC).

SEE BACK

TRIBAL ACCESS PROGRAM FOR NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION (TAP) OVERVIEW V4 / JUNE 2019

U.S. Department of Justice 
Tribes may use TAP for all purposes authorized by 

federal law. 

The criminal justice agencies eligible to participate in 

TAP are: 

• Law Enforcement Agencies 

• Prosecutor’s Offices

• Corrections and Detention 

The non-criminal justice agencies eligible to participate 

in TAP are: 

• Agencies with Sex Offender Registration responsibilities 

• Agencies whose staff/volunteers have contact with or control 

over Indian children

• Public Housing

• Child Support Enforcement

• Head Start

• Agencies investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and 

exploitation of children

• Civil Courts issuing orders of protection, injunctions, 

restraining orders, or other keep away orders

TAP helps Tribes as they protect their communities in 

a variety of ways. Among other things, Tribes can:

• Enter orders of protection making them accessible for 

enforcement both on and off Tribal land

• Register sex offenders in compliance with the Adam Walsh 

Child Protection and Safety Act

• Enter information to prevent illegal gun purchases

• Enter arrest warrants for on and off reservation awareness and 

enforcement

• Perform record checks on employees and volunteers who have 

contact with or control over Indian children

• Perform record checks of housing applicants and tenants

• Document arrest and conviction data

• Access investigative records of other law enforcement agencies

• Locate absent parents to enforce child support orders

• Search for and enter information about persons and property

• Conduct name-based criminal history checks to determine if 

supervised individuals have new charges

• Obtain complete criminal histories to make release 

recommendations in criminal court cases

REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN TAP

To participate in TAP, federally recognized Tribes must apply and be selected. TAP usually accepts 

applications once a year; please check the TAP website for current information on the application dates. 

Tribes must agree to comply with and adhere to auditing and policy requirements, personnel and physical 

requirements, and technical security requirements applied to all agencies when accessing nation crime 

information systems. Tribes decide which agencies will participate in TAP and must designate a Terminal 

Agency Coordinator (TAC) for each participating agency who is responsible for pre-deployment and postdeployment activities. Participation in TAP also requires the approval of Tribal leadership. 

Tribes must provide high-speed Internet access and pay any FBI CJIS User Fees associated with 

fingerprint-based and name-based checks for noncriminal justice purposes, executing a user fee 

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with FBI CJIS to pay those fees. Additionally, Tribal governments 

must make legislative or policy determinations that provide guidance to courts and law enforcement about 

what Tribal data is shared.

LEARN MORE ABOUT TAP

WEBSITE: WWW.USDOJ.GOV/TRIBAL/TAP

EMAIL: TRIBALACCESS@USDOJ.GOV

DOJ recognizes that some Tribes have access 

to certain CJIS systems through state CSA 

networks. In that instance, DOJ encourages 

a three-way discussion with the Tribe and the 

state CSA about their information needs.

U.S. Department of Justice 

BENEFITS OF TAP FOR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES

• Criminal Courts 

• Pretrial Services

• Probation and Parole