Buckeye Reporter

(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — The office of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost has announced the availability of $2.45 million in federal grant money aimed at aiding Ohio courts in reporting criminal data to the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Yost emphasized the importance of ensuring the state's criminal-records database is accurate and up-to-date, stating, "Every Ohioan must be able to trust that our background check system is as comprehensive and current as possible."

The National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), which has been instrumental in enhancing the accuracy of criminal records databases, is now offering grants to support the collaboration between local law enforcement, courts, and BCI. Yost highlighted the significance of this collaborative effort, stating, "Only an ongoing collaborative effort among local law enforcement, the courts, and BCI will help to continue building the public’s trust."

The grant money will be allocated to provide technological or financial assistance to qualifying local entities in three key areas. One of the initiatives includes providing more than 60 LiveScan devices to courts for capturing and transmitting fingerprint images to BCI once a case disposition is entered. Additionally, funds will be subgranted to facilitate electronic reporting of adjudication information by Ohio's Juvenile Courts and to help cover costs associated with recovering case dispositions not previously reported to BCI.

Chief Justice Sharon L. Kennedy of the Supreme Court of Ohio has emphasized the importance of accurate criminal case reporting, urging judges statewide to prioritize this process. Kennedy emphasized, "There can be no doubt that the accurate reporting of criminal information is the best thing for the people we serve."

Interested parties, including courts and local governmental agencies, can apply for the grants until the deadline of May 15, 2024. For more information and to access the grant application forms, visit the Ohio Attorney General's website.

For media inquiries, please contact Steve Irwin at 614-728-5417.