50 STATES RECEIVE ABOUT $9.7 MILLION TO IMPROVE
DNA AND FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Justice Department's Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) today awarded more than $194,000 to each of the 50 states to develop or improve their DNA analysis capabilities and computerized identification systems. The State Identification Systems (SIS) program, authorized by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, is administered by BJA with funding provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

"More than 50 percent of the funds awarded will be used to enhance DNA analysis, nearly 29 percent for automated fingerprint identification systems and over 18 percent for other computerized identification systems," said BJA Director Nancy Gist. "With improved information systems, we will be able to accurately identify offenders and bring them to justice faster and more effectively."

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.

To be eligible, a state must have a law in place that requires all persons convicted of a felony sex offense to provide appropriate state law enforcement officials with a DNA sample for analysis. Presently, all 50 states have such laws in effect. There is not a comparable law that covers the five territories or the District of Columbia.

BJA provides leadership and support on crime and violence prevention and works in partnership with state and local governments to make communities safe and to improve criminal justice systems. In addition, BJA develops and tests new approaches in criminal justice and crime control, and encourages replication of effective programs and practices by state and local criminal justice agencies.

The SIS program will enhance a state's ability to become fully integrated with the databases of the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) and the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS).

To obtain additional information on BJA and its programs, you can access the agency's homepage at https://ojp.gov/bja. For additional information about the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) or its other bureaus and programs, visit the OJP website at https://ojp.gov.

Attached is a list of the 1998 State Identification Systems grant recipients.

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BJA 98-201

After hours contact: James Phillips at 1-888/582-6750 (pager)

BUREAU OF JUSTICE ASSISTANCE
1998 STATE IDENTIFICATION SYSTEMS FORMULA GRANT AWARDS