Justice Department Opens Application Period for Program to Enhance Tribal Access to National Crime Information Databases

WASHINGTON - The Department of Justice is pleased to announce the opening of the application period for federally recognized Tribes and intertribal consortia to participate in the Tribal Access Program (TAP) for National Crime Information. TAP improves public safety by providing federally recognized Tribes the ability to access and exchange data with national crime information databases for authorized criminal justice and non-criminal justice purposes, including the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC).

"Making America safe again extends to Indian country and Native American communities across the U.S. who experience high rates of crime and victimization," said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. "For more than a decade the Department of Justice has offered TAP, an innovative program that enables Tribes to access and share critical crime data in real time with our national databases. With this information Tribal partners can solve crimes, locate fugitives, and use a variety of other tools to keep their communities safe."

The program provides software, hardware, and training, as well as a web-based application and biometric/biographic kiosk workstations to process fingerprints, take mugshots, and submit information to FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) systems. The Department will accept TAP applications from July 13 to August 31. Tribes selected to participate will be notified in September. There are currently 152 federally recognized Tribes participating in TAP.

Using TAP, Tribes have shared information about missing persons; entered domestic violence orders of protection for nationwide enforcement; registered convicted sex offenders; run criminal histories; located fugitives; entered bookings and convictions; and completed fingerprint-based record checks for non-criminal justice purposes such as screening employees or volunteers who work with children.

"The TAP program has significantly helped the La Jolla Tribal Police Department by strengthening our operational capacity, improving access to critical law enforcement resources, and expanding the training opportunities available to our officers," said Abraham Chavero, Chief of Police, La Jolla Tribal Police Department. "Through TAP's support, we have been able to streamline reporting processes, enhance data accuracy, and improve coordination with partnering agencies."

"The Penobscot Nation Tribal Court has greatly benefited from participating in TAP," said Rebecca Winter, Penobscot Nation Tribal Court Administrator. "Having direct access to national crime information systems has strengthened public safety efforts within our community. TAP has enabled our Court and law enforcement partners to access important information in real time, helping us better serve our tribal members."

For Tribes that are considering applying, TAP staff will be conducting informational webinars describing the program and its capabilities. Webinars will be offered throughout July and August. For more information about TAP, including webinar dates, times and access information, visit www.justice.gov/tribal/tribal-access-program-tapLinks to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link..

To qualify for funding, federally recognized Tribes must have - and agree to use TAP for - at least one of the following:

• A Tribal sex offender registry authorized by the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act,
• A Tribal law enforcement agency that has arrest powers,
• A Tribal court that issues orders of protection, or
• A Tribal government agency that screens individuals for foster care placement or that investigates allegations of child abuse/neglect.

TAP is funded by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking; the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; the Office for Victims of Crime; and the Office on Violence Against Women. TAP is co-managed by the department's Office of the Chief Information Officer and Office of Tribal Justice.

###

OAG

26-769

If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.