SEARCH News

SEARCH’s 2026 Annual Membership Group Meeting drew 141 attendees representing 37 states and the District of Columbia, who gathered at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland.

The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) is accepting applications for the FY 2026 Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Program, a grant opportunity designed to help state, local, and tribal governments protect federal judges and their families by preventing the public release of sensitive personal information.

SEARCH is pleased to announce the appointment of Captain Saleem El-Amin, M.S.C.J., to the SEARCH Membership Group, representing the State of Louisiana.

SEARCH is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Zahid Siddiqi, Esq. of the Office of the Ohio Attorney General (AGO) to the SEARCH Membership Group, representing the State of Ohio.

SEARCH is pleased to announce the appointment of Lt. Danea L. Durham, Director of the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Records and Identification Division, to the SEARCH Membership Group.

At the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Advisory Policy Board (APB) meeting held June 3–4, 2026, in New Orleans, Louisiana, SEARCH’s Executive Director, Derek Veitenheimer, delivered remarks on June 4 highlighting the impact of SEARCH member engagement on national policy and funding decisions.

SEARCH is pleased to share the Rapid ID Survey Results Summary, which provides an overview of current deployment and operational use of Rapid ID fingerprint technology across participating states. This survey, conducted between April 27 and May 11, 2026, gathered responses from 25 state agencies and offers insight into adoption levels, use cases, implementation models, and key challenges.

SEARCH is pleased to announce the appointment of Assistant Director J. Hunter Bellon of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation, to the SEARCH Membership Group.

On May 12–13 in Detroit, SEARCH convened 39 attendees from 15 states for a Clean Slate Community of Practice Implementers Workshop centered on sharing experiences, challenges, and practical strategies for carrying out complex record clearance legislation.

During the May 7 meeting of the FBI’s Compact Council, SEARCH Executive Director Derek Veitenheimer provided an overview of SEARCH’s ongoing efforts to strengthen criminal history record systems and support states in meeting both policy and operational demands.