Arizona Improvements to NICS Records

The Office of Justice Programs funds the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Act Record Improvement Program (NARIP). Both of these programs provide essential support and guidance to improve reporting of criminal history and related records used for background checks conducted through the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) NICS, for individuals seeking to purchase certain firearms. Recent acts of violence have focused national attention on the urgent need to close several persistent information gaps remaining in the background check process. The Bureau of Justice Assistance, in close coordination with Bureau of Justice Statistics and the FBI, is funding a one-time grant program to complement the ongoing NCHIP and NARIP programs by improving and expanding the data accessible to NICS at the time of a firearm background check to ensure lawful purchases.

The Arizona Criminal Justice Commission will use the funds to partner with Maricopa County Attorney's Office, Maricopa County Superior Court, AZ Administrative Office of the Courts, AZ Department of Public Safety, AZ Attorney General's Office, Arizona Law Enforcement Agencies, and the AZ Department of Health Services to improve the safety and security of Arizona citizens by enhancing the quality, completeness, and accessibility of the State's criminal history records. The goal of the partnership will be: To develop NIEM compliant data exchanges from the Maricopa County Prosecutor's Office to the Arizona Administrative Office of the Courts for active informations/complaints and indictments; to develop "Promising Practice" documents for law enforcement policy considerations and procedures to address availability and use of FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) information in regards to inquiries and release of firearms property; to incorporate law enforcement prohibited possessor indictors into standard law enforcement queries for mental health and information/indictment categories; and to expand data exchange capability for mental health reporting to NICS. CA/NCF