The Bureau of Criminal Identification is divided into various functions which include, a records, fingerprinting, training, data analisys, investigations, and more. Please see Background section for more detail on specific functions.
Funding History
Appropriation Overview
During the 2015 General Session, the Legislature appropriated for Fiscal Year 2016, $18,416,900 from all sources for CITS Bureau of Criminal Identification. This is a 30.7 percent increase from Fiscal Year 2015 revised estimated amounts from all sources. The total includes $1,012,800 from the General/Education Funds, an increase of 8.3 percent from revised Fiscal Year 2015 estimates.
Appropriation Adjustments
In addition to statewide compensation and internal service fund cost increases, the following appropriation adjustments were made during the 2015 General Session:
DescriptionOngoingOne-Time
Alcoholic Beverage Control Amendments$14,400$0
Background Checks/HB 145 Vulnerable Adult Workers$208,700$0
Child Care Amendments ($105,000) ($15,000)
Dedicated Credits$40,000$40,000
Driving Privilege Card Application Amendments$100,600$961,900
Education Background Check Amendments$5,200$0
Suicide Prevention Amendments$15,000$0
Utah Emergency Medical Services System Act Amendments$22,000$27,200
White Collar Crime Registry$1,500$11,000
Staff Analysis
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$4,000$0Dedicated Credits Revenue
$10,400$0Pass-through
Enactment of this legislation could increase dedicated credit revenue by $4,000 annually and $6,000 one-time in FY 2016 from the Bureau of Criminal Identification fee identified in the legislation. Pass-through funding to the Federal Bureau of Investigations could also increase by $10,400 annually and $15,600 one-time from the fees in the legislation. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control costs identified below could reduce the year-end transfer to the General Fund by $15,600 ongoing and by $15,600 one-time in FY 2016.
Enactment of this legislation could cost Public Safety $4,000 ongoing from dedicated credits revenue for data storage, review and analysis. Potential costs to the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for oversight, processing and background checks could be $15,600 annually from the Liquor Control Fund and $15,600 one-time in FY 2016. Spending from the Liquor Control Fund impacts year-end transfers to the General Fund.
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$50,000$0Dedicated Credits Revenue
$158,700$0Pass-through
Human Services - Background Checks & HB 145 - Vulnerable Adult Worker Amendments - "to enable background checks of employees working with vulnerable adults."
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
($105,000) ($15,000)Dedicated Credits Revenue
About 1,000 child care workers in FY 2015 and 7,000 ongoing beginning in FY 2016 who previously paid $15 for a background check to the Department of Public Safety will now pay those fees to the Department of Health. This could result in a shift of revenue of $15,000 in FY 2015 and $105,000 ongoing beginning in FY 2016 from dedicated credits to the Department of Public Safety to a deposit in the General Fund. The Department of Health deposits its child care background check fees into the General Fund.
Enactment of this legislation could cost the Department of Health from the General Fund $12,000 in FY 2015 and $88,000 ongoing beginning in FY 2016 for 1.6 FTEs to process 1,000 child care worker background checks in FY 2015 and 7,000 ongoing beginning in FY 2016. The Department of Public Safety will no longer be processing these child care background checks at a dedicated credits cost of $15,000 in FY 2015 and $105,000 ongoing beginning in FY 2016.
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$40,000$40,000Dedicated Credits Revenue
No Description
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$50,000$125,000Dedicated Credits Revenue
$50,600$836,900Pass-through
Enactment of this legislation would require individuals holding or applying for a driving privilege card (DPC) to submit to a background check. Enactment of this legislation could generate one-time revenue of $1,714,400 in FY 2016 for the Department of Public Safety for processing background checks for an estimated 32,500 existing DPC holders as follows: $877,500 dedicated credits and $836,900 pass-through to the FBI. Enactment of this legislation could generate ongoing revenue of $103,700 beginning in FY 2016 for the Department of Public Safety for processing background checks for an estimated 1,965 new DPC applicants as follows: $52,100 dedicated credits and $50,600 pass-through to the FBI.
Enactment of this legislation could cost the Department of Public Safety $961,900 one-time in FY 2016 to process background checks for an estimated 32,500 existing DPC holders as follows: $125,000 dedicated credits and $836,900 pass-through to the FBI. Enactment of this legislation could cost the Department of Public Safety $100,600 ongoing beginning in FY 2016 to process background checks for an estimated 1,965 DPC applicants as follows: $50,000 dedicated credits and $50,600 pass-through to the FBI. The Department could hire three positions to assist with processing applications: two positions would be time-limited to help process applications for the 32,500 existing DPC holders, and one position would be ongoing on a part-time basis.
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$5,200$0Dedicated Credits Revenue
Enactment of this bill amends background check requirements. The Department of Public Safety may see an ongoing increase of $5,200 in Dedicated Credits Revenue beginning in FY 2016. This revenue is a pass-through to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Enactment of this bill requires additional background checks. Individuals that are affected by the bill will pay an additional $13 for their background check to the Department of Public Safety. The Department of Public Safety will pass-through this money to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$15,000$0GFR - Firearm Safety Account
No Description
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$22,000$27,200Dedicated Credits Revenue
The Department of Health will receive an ongoing increase in dedicated credits beginning in FY 2016 of $33,100 with additional one-time increases in FY 2016 and FY 2017 of $84,800.
Enactment of this legislation may cost the Department of Public Safety $12,500 for 0.25 FTE from dedicated credits to process background check applications. The Department of Public Safety will have pass through costs from dedicated credits to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for fingerprint background checks of $9,500 ongoing beginning in FY 2016 and one-time costs in FY 2016 and FY 2017 of $27,200. The bill may cost the Department of Health $11,100 ongoing dedicated credits beginning in FY 2016 and one-time costs of $57,600 in FY 2016 and FY 2017 for FTE time to process background check applications and background computer system upgrades and maintenance.
OngoingOne-TimeFinancing Source
$1,500$11,000Dedicated Credits Revenue
Enactment of this legislation could increase revenue to the General Fund by $20,000 and to various Courts restricted accounts by $16,000 one-time in FY 2016 from petition filing fees; revenue could increase to the General Fund by $4,000 and to various Courts restricted accounts by $3,200 beginning in FY 2017. This legislation could increase dedicated credits revenue to the Department of Public Safety by $12,000 one-time in FY 2016 and by $2,400 beginning in FY 2017 from application fees.
Enactment of this legislation could cost the Department of Public Safety $5,000 from dedicated credits one-time in FY 2016 for computer programming; it could cost $7,500 one-time in FY 2016 and $1,500 beginning in FY 2017 from dedicated credits to issue eligibility certificates. This legislation could cost the Attorney General $25,000 one-time in FY 2016 and $5,000 beginning in FY 2016 from the Criminal Forfeiture Restricted Account for creation and maintenance of the White Collar Crime Offender Registry. This legislation could further cost the Attorney General $12,000 from the General Fund beginning in FY 2016 for staff support. This legislation could cost the Courts $35,000 one-time in FY 2016 and $7,000 beginning in FY 2017 from the General Fund.
The Department reports that they believe steep increase in dedicated credit revenue is due to major news events related to Sandy Hook shootings. They report that while revenue increased one-time, costs did not increase the same amount over the same time. The Legislature should consider at least a one-time $500,000 amount of General Fund revenue as the Department report this can be reduced without affecting operations.
The Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) was established in 1927. To fulfill the required duties, BCI has been divided into seven sections. They are as follows:
- The Record Section is responsible for entering data into the Utah Computerized Criminal History (UCCH) file of all submitted criminal arrests and the outcome of these arrests. Expungement eligibility is also determined by this section and upon issuing an Expungement Order, it is its responsibility to expunge the Utah record and forward all necessary paperwork to the FBI to assure the accuracy of an individual's record. Employment background checks for qualifying entities are also processed in this section. The UCCH database contains over one million arrest records.
- The Fingerprint/AFIS Section verifies and classifies all fingerprints that are submitted to BCI whether for criminal or applicant purposes. BCI is a member of the Western Identification Network (WIN) which allows Utah agencies to access data from the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) consisting of seven western states, the California Department of Justice (CAL-DOJ) and the Washington State Police.
- The Telecommunications/Quality Assurance Section operates as a 24x7x365 helpline for all criminal justice agencies statewide and across the country. BCI is the Control Terminal Agency for the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS). This section also provides ongoing research into open arrest records and prosecution records in cooperation with the courts of Utah to assure record quality and reliability.
- The Auditing and Training/Data Collection and Analysis Section is responsible for the training in the proper use of the Utah Criminal Justice Information System (UCJIS) files. Proficiency testing of all users and auditing agencies is also done by this section. The gathering and compiling of statewide statistics and producing the "Crime in Utah Report" is performed by this section. BCI is the Missing Person Clearinghouse for Utah and resides within this section.
- The Support Service Section assists citizens wishing to review or challenge their own Utah criminal record as well as processing all incoming mail and tending to the financial issues that are handled through the bureau.
- The Investigations Section issues Private Investigator and Bail Enforcement Agent licenses. Investigations are also handled through the firearms section. Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW), Private Investigator and Bail Enforcement appeal boards are overseen by the Firearms staff. Employees of the Investigations Section work closely with firearms instructors/dealers to ensure state and federal laws are followed.
- The Firearms Section conducts background checks on individuals wishing to purchase a firearm. Additional research is conducted on those individuals missing data on their criminal record. Background checks are also conducted on those wishing to obtain a Concealed Weapon Permit. Permits are created after an individual passes the required background check. This section is also responsible for the suspensions and revocations of concealed permits.
COBI contains unaudited data as presented to the Legislature by state agencies at the time of publication. For audited financial data see the State of Utah's Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports.