Funding Justice Information Sharing

1
Funding Justice Information Sharing

• Blake Harrison NCSL
• NGA CJIS Regional Forum
• Miami, Florida
• June 20th, 2005

2
Introduction

• Methodology
• -Difficulty in defining
• -State budgets
• -Strategic plans (project documents)
• -interviews with state CJIS officers
• Need
• - Sustainability
• - Competing interests
• - Obstacles (privacy concerns, tight budgets,
  costs, tangible outcomes)

3
Federal Resources

• Federal Role
• - Grants
• - Offer planning support and guidance from a
  national perspective.
• Governance Structure
• - 38 states have operational governance
  structures
• - Pros and cons of formal governance
• Homeland Security
• - Opportunity for states to leverage resources
  from both fields to improve their justice system.

4
State Legislation

• Direct Legislative Appropriations
• - Not onetime expenditures
• - Embedded in agency budgets
• - Seed money
• Sustainability
• -Advisory Board/ Task Forces
• - Minnesota (policy group to review funding
  requests)
• - Colorado (task force to ensure compatibility)
  
• - Maryland ( Major funding needs approval from
  the chief information officer)

5
Technology funds
6
Technology Funds Cont.

• Fees, Fines and Taxes
• - Court fees, offender fees, access fees,
  licensing fees etc.
• - New Jersey, fees on all parking tickets
• - Nebraska, 0.02 cigarette tax
• - Sale of information finger print check,
  hand gun permits
• - Charging the federal government private
  entities and other state agencies access fees.
• Revolving Funds
• -Supplemented with grants, gifts forfeitures,
  rents
• - Allows for reinvestment
• - Encourages profitability and cost savings

7
Dedicated Taxes / Bonds

• Dedicated Taxes
• Not very popular
• Sales tax on cars, gasoline taxes to department
  of public safety
• Nebraska cigarette tax
• Bonds
• - Good for long term planning
• - Used for projects with large upfront costs
• can be paid off over a number of years
• - Can be repaid through technology funds
• - May require voter approval

8
Public-Private Partnerships

• Information Network Kansas (INK)
• -75 subscription fee and a 60 annual renewal
• Texas Online
• - Generates revenue from fees charged to users
  of services (drivers license renewal fees,
  driver record requests and e-filing for courts.)
  Operational costs became profitable in 2003, and
  is expected to reach break-even point in 2005.
• Other Innovations
• - State lands, rights of way etc.
• - Michigan Wi-fi State provides space for
  cellular and other rent-free space on public
  property.

9
Questions

• Contact
• Blake Harrison
• Sr. Policy Specialist Criminal Justice
• NCSL
• 303.856.1424
• blake.harrison_at_ncsl.org