CJIS manages and operates several national crime information systems used by the public safety community for both criminal and civil purposes. CJIS systems are available to the criminal justice community, including law enforcement, jails, prosecutors, courts, as well as probation and pretrial services. CJIS systems also are available to non-criminal justice agencies for specifically authorized civil purposes, such as screening for child placement, employment, housing, and licensing.
Agencies across the United States submit information to, and obtain information from, CJIS systems. This exchange of information is essential to public safety. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintains the host systems and provides a telecommunication network to one CJIS Systems Agency (CSA) in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, territories, Canada, and federal agencies, including DOJ. CSAs provide access to CJIS systems as well as Nlets.
National Crime Information Center (NCIC)A criminal records database allowing criminal justice agencies to enter or search for information about stolen property, missing or wanted persons, and domestic violence protection orders; to get criminal histories; and to access the National Sex Offender Registry.
Next Generation Identification (NGI)Formerly known as the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) – a database of palm and fingerprints and mugshots, allowing verification of identity, submissions of arrest information, and access to fingerprint-based criminal histories.
National Data Exchange (N-DEx)A national investigative information sharing system giving access to records from across the nation to aid in criminal investigations. Investigators can review criminal justice data from state, local, tribal, regional, and federal agencies, 24/7, from any secure Internet-capable device. Data includes incident reports, arrest reports, booking and incarceration reports, pre-trial investigations, and probation and parole records.
National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)A system used by Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs) to determine a person’s eligibility to buy firearms or explosives, helping to ensure prohibited persons are prevented from purchasing firearms, and to issue firearms-related permits, and manage seized firearms.
Law Enforcement Enterprise Portal (LEEP)A gateway for criminal justice agencies to access unclassified law enforcement intelligence products, as well as systems or services such as N-DEx, Intelink, the Regional Information Sharing Systems Network (RISSNET), National Gang Intelligence Center, eGuardian, Virtual Command Center, and others.
An interstate justice and public safety network owned by the states supporting inquiry into state systems for criminal history, driver’s license and motor vehicle registration, as well as supporting inquiry into federal systems, such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Law Enforcement Support Center, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Drug Pointer Index (NDPIX), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Registry, as well as the Government of Canada’s Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC).