Firearms Background Check Records Improvement

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 Investigation's (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 grantee will use the funds for four projects to improve the safety and security of Indiana citizens by enhancing the quality, completeness, and accessibility of the State's criminal history records. The Department of Mental Health and Addition will cull from its files mental health determinations that disqualify certain individuals from purchasing firearms; enable 20 criminal courts in Marion County to access a new case management system to enhance the State's criminal history records; create an interface framework to connect the case management system with the Mental Health Adjudication Reporting System; and, enable the Indiana State Police to check the status of handgun permits to ensure only those individuals who are qualified hold a valid permit. CA/NCF