Technical Assistance in Support of Improving Completeness of Firearm Background Checks

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 (BJA), in close coordination with Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and the FBI, is funding a national Technical Assistance (TA) provider to work closely with each implementation site, BJA, BJS, and the FBI, to improve and expand the data accessible to NICS at the time of a firearm background check to ensure lawful purchases. In order to accelerate progress in carrying out the goals and objectives of the program, this provider will serve as BJA's onsite liaison and be responsible for convening stakeholders and driving consensus to remove obstacles to improved sharing of records and assist in meeting project goals. The role of the TA provider will be an advisor, a facilitator, and a problem-solver, and tackle significant legal, policy, and technology barriers. The provider will also help prevent duplication of efforts across sites by replicating successful strategies and incentivizing adoption of national reporting standards.

The grantee will utilize funds to meet the three key goals identified in the solicitation. First, to provide comprehensive technical assistance services to all implementation grant recipients to increase the number of complete and accurate records available to FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) for background checks. Second, to facilitate the success of the projects undertaken by each of the 11 implementation grant recipients by establishing routine communications, coordination, and outreach with recipients and key program stakeholders. Third, to design and conduct effective evidence-based evaluations of the 11 implementation projects, then use that data to summarize common challenges to information sharing and to identify effective solutions that other jurisdictions nationwide can apply. CA/NCF