Publications & Templates

This document offers a standardized approach to identify and document functional requirements and application components when procuring a prosecutor case management/tracking system. It was prepared by SEARCH with the guidance, subject matter expertise, and support of the National District Attorneys Association, and the assistance of a group of subject matter experts.

Since 1989, SEARCH has conducted a biennial national survey of state criminal history systems, then collates and analyzes the results. This report is the 15th such survey, and it provides the most current and comprehensive snapshot of data, trends, improvements, and practices spanning state repository and criminal history operations. Data collected reflect repository systems and operations as of December 31, 2018.

This research report, coauthored by SEARCH and the National Center for State Courts, describes how firearm-related background checks of unlawful drug users prohibit them from purchasing or possessing firearms; highlights the states’ progress in submitting these records to state/federal criminal records systems; and describes the challenges states have in identifying and providing relevant records, as well as strategies some states use to improve reporting.

At SEARCH’s 2017 Winter Membership Group Meeting, held Jan. 24-26 in Phoenix, Arizona, staff facilitated a roundtable discussion and breakout session that addressed the inclusion of dispositions in criminal history records, particularly the challenges of and successful strategies for reporting dispositions. This report documents the findings of these discussions.

This research report, coauthored by SEARCH and the National Center for State Courts, examines the progress states have made in reporting MCDV data to state and federal databases, including the NICS, for firearm purchase background checks.

This research report, coauthored by SEARCH and the National Center for State Courts, details the importance of fingerprint-supported criminal history records for background check purposes, and describes the progress states are making to improve the timeliness and accuracy of firearm-related background checks.

This research report, coauthored by SEARCH and the National Center for State Courts, examines the progress states have made in providing firearm-prohibiting protection order data to state and federal databases, including the NCIC Protection Order File.

This research report, coauthored by SEARCH and the National Center for State Courts, examines the progress states have made in providing firearm-prohibiting mental health data to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Index.

As system interoperability grows, it is important for justice stakeholders to share charge information in order to improve the overall accuracy of the respective data systems involved in the justice process. This is best accomplished by developing and maintaining a shared charge table. This brief is a resource to justice stakeholders undertaking this process.

This provides an overview of UML and discusses the features and techniques to support the “Scenario Planning” phase of information exchange package document (IEPD) development. It’s a companion document to A Unified Modeling Language Approach to Modeling NIEM Exchanges: Analyzing Requirements, which illustrates the UML diagrams that support the “Analyze Requirements” and “Map and Model” phases of IEP development, and discusses the service infrastructure environment.

Approved by the SEARCH Membership Group on July 29, 2014, these eight policy statements articulate the core principles of SEARCH.

This white paper by SEARCH’s Mental Health Records in NICS Focus Group provides information on how mental health records become a part of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Index—one of the databases accessed during firearms background checks. It also describes which records are eligible for inclusion, examines common misconceptions about these records, and highlights the collective success that states have had in making these records available to the NICS.

This SEARCH paper shows how information sharing supports justice reform in making better decisions; ensuring accountability; providing efficient services; understanding and investing in what works; and building on what exists. The paper highlights specific examples of successful justice reform through better decision-making.