Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $350,000)
The Congressionally Selected Awards Program, authorized by the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), helps improve the functioning of the criminal justice system, prevent or combat juvenile delinquency, and/or assist victims of crime (other than compensation). Funds should be used for the projects selected by Congress, in the amounts specified in the joint explanatory statement incorporated by reference into Pub. L. 111-8, and generally consistent with one or more of the following statutory purposes: improving the functioning of the criminal justice system, preventing or combating juvenile delinquency, or assisting victims of crime (other than compensation). Each of these purposes is framed using language drawn, respectively, from the former Byrne discretionary statute, the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Victims of Crime Act, and the Violence Against Women Act. This project is authorized and funded through a line item in the FY 09 Congressional Budget and by the joint explanatory statement that is incorporated by reference into the FY09 Omnibus Appropriations Act.
The Houston Police Department (HPD) will utilize the FY 2009 Congressionally Selected Award to expand and enhance the department's current AFIS system by procuring additional components and storage capacity, including livescan units for two police stations.
Proposed project goals are to provide needed equipment for new latent fingerprint examiners, provide new livescan equipment for two new police stations, and expand fingerprint storage capacity on existing backend servers. The following objectives will be accomplished: (1) utilize enhanced fingerprint capture technology to provide expeditious suspect identity without affecting patrol time factors; (2) provide fast and accurate suspect identification and warrant discovery; (3) expand fingerprint resources to improve non-citizen deported felon warrant identification, sex offender identification and registration, and individuals with terrorist interests; (4) provide additional crime scene fingerprint scanning devices to solve crime through latent fingerprint examiner investigations; and (5) augment jail operations with reduced booking times. Grant funds will cover the following costs: equipment (workstations, livescan unit, palm print scanner, PMA elite server, training costs, terabyte storage, and printers) and contractual costs (training and installation and livescan maintenance).
NCA/NCF