FY 1997 State Identification Systems Grants Program . Series: BJA Fact Sheet Published: April 1997 3 pages 10,386 bytes FY 1997 State Identification Systems Grants Program Nancy E. Gist, Director U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance Of the many collaborative efforts the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have undertaken to make local and State law enforcement, prosecutorial, court, and corrections agencies more effective, one of the most critical is the improvement and integration of information systems that those agencies can use to identify and prosecute offenders. This fact sheet describes the State Identification Systems (SIS) grants program, established to give States the resources to develop or improve their computerized identification systems and integrate those systems with the FBI's national identification databases. In fiscal year (FY) 1997, BJA will award $9.5 million in FBI-funded SIS grants to eligible States. The grants can be used to: o Create computerized identification systems that are compatible and integrated with databases of the FBI's National Crime Information Center. o Improve forensic laboratories' ability to analyze deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in ways that are compatible and integrated with the FBI's Combined DNA Identification System (CODIS). o Develop automated fingerprint systems that are compatible and integrated with the FBI's Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). Use of SIS Funds States may use SIS grants for equipment, supplies, training or educational expenses, modifications to space to accommodate equipment, contractor-provided services to address backlog or program implementation issues, and State and local personnel expenses if personnel are devoted to a qualifying identification project. SIS grants may be used by States in conjunction with local government agencies or with other States in any combination. States are not required, however, to pass through funding to local agencies. In addition, States may enter into compacts with other States to carry out the grants. The Federal share of funds for a State's program may cover 100 percent of its costs. There is no match requirement. Eligibility Requirements To be eligible to receive a SIS grant, a State must require each person convicted of a felony of a sexual nature to provide a sample of blood, saliva, or other specimen to appropriate State law enforcement officials, as designated by the State's chief executive officer. The specimen will be used to conduct a DNA analysis consistent with the standards established for DNA testing by the director of the FBI. According to the FBI, as of March 1997, 44 States meet this requirement. For purposes of the SIS program, the term "State" designates any State of the United States as well as the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. However, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands are considered one State and will divide the allocation of funds for that State by a 67 and 33 percent share, respectively. Distribution of Awards SIS funds appropriated in FY 1997 will be awarded in the following manner: o Each State awarded a SIS grant will receive approximately $172,727.* o Any remaining funds will be allocated to each State on the basis of its population compared to the population of all States. Any grant funds that cannot be awarded in any fiscal year will be carried forward to the next fiscal year and added to the total appropriated by Congress for the program. * American Samoa will receive $115,727, and the Northern Mariana Islands will receive $57,000. Administration of the SIS Program In each State, the Governor will designate a State agency to administer the State's SIS award. This agency will assume responsibility for submitting the State's application, selecting subrecipients to receive funds, disbursing funds, and performing other administrative functions. For More Information BJA provides a variety of publications and materials on efforts to improve the criminal justice system at the Federal, State, and local levels. To order publications or to find out more about BJA programs, contact these offices: Bureau of Justice Assistance Clearinghouse Box 6000 Rockville, MD 20849-6000 Tel: 1-800-688-4252 World Wide Web: http://www.ncjrs.org Clearinghouse staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. eastern time. Ask them to place you on the BJA mailing list. U.S. Department of Justice Response Center 1-800-421-6770 or 202-307-1480 Response Center staff are available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. eastern time. BJA World Wide Web Home Page http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA FS000175 April 1997