Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2009, $150,000)
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 its current AFIS suspect fingerprint identification tools. Grant funds will be used to procure necessary AFIS components and to acquire contractual services to maintain said system.
Project goals are to provide more mobile hand-held fingerprint capture devices for in-field crime reduction, incident first responders, and tactical teams, and to decrease the response time for suspect identification. HPD will purchase and use enhanced law enforcement tools to expand upon the state's investment of an AFIS infrastructure, targeting city locations with high crime rates.
The following objectives are proposed: (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; and (3) expand fingerprint resources to improve non-citizen deported felon warrant identification, sex offender identification and registration, and individuals with terrorist interests.
HPD will seek to utilize technology to make automated fingerprint identification and data available to strategic response units of the HPD and to local police agencies that are partnering with the department to address issues of national significance and local importance. Grant funds will cover the following costs: equipment (bluecheck devices with maintenance support, mobile ident devices with maintenance support, telecom charges, netmotion client, bluetooth adapters, and security software) and contractual services (maintenance fees).
NCA/NCF