Criminal Justice Information Systems Act
Latest action. Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary.
Criminal Justice Information Systems Act - Defines "criminal justice information system" as a system utilized for the collection, processing, preservation or dissemination of criminal record information, criminal intelligence information and criminal offender processing information. States that this Act applies to any criminal justice information system which is (1) operated by the Federal Government; (2) operated by a State or local government and funded in whole or in part by the Federal Government; (3) an interstate system, or (4) operated by a State or local government and engaged in the exchange of criminal justice information with a system otherwise covered by this Act. Provides that direct access to information contained in a criminal justice information system subject to this Act shall be available only to authorized officers or employees of a criminal justice agency. Provides that criminal intelligence information may be used only for a criminal justice purpose, and only where need for the use has been established in accord with regulations issued by the Attorney General, except that it may be used for a purpose not related to criminal justice if the Attorney General determines that such use is necessary because of reason of national defense or foreign policy. Specifies the permitted uses for criminal offender processing and record information. Provides that any individual who complies with applicable regulations shall be entitled to review criminal offender record information regarding himself contained in any criminal justice information system subject to this Act, and to obtain a copy of the information for the purpose of challenge or correction. Sets forth procedures for correction of information obtained from any criminal justice information system subject to this Act by an individual with respect to his own record. Provides that any criminal justice agency which contributes criminal offender record information to a criminal justice information system subject to this Act shall assure that the information it contributes is accurate and complete and that it is regularly and accurately revised to include dispositional and other subsequent information. Provides that no information relating to an arrest may be disseminated without the inclusion of the final disposition of the charges if a disposition has been reported. Provides that criminal offender record information concerning the arrest of an individual may not be disseminated or used for a non-criminal justice purpose if: (1) the individual is acquitted of the charge for which he was arrested, (2) the charge is dismissed, (3) a determination to abandon prosecution of the charge is made by the prosecuting attorney, or (4) an interval of one year has elapsed from the date of the arrest and no final disposition of the charge has resulted and no active prosecution of the charge is pending. Lists exceptions to the foregoing provision. Provides that criminal offender record information shall be sealed in accord with the requirements of a court order, a Federal or State statute, or regulations issued by the Attorney General, when appropriate notification is provided by the agency directly responsible for compliance with the order, statute, or regulation. Enumerates the conditions under which criminal offender record information shall be sealed. Sets forth exceptions to the foregoing provision. Provides that all criminal justice information systems subject to this Act shall meet security standards promulgated by the Attorney General to guard against unauthorized access to data contained in the systems. Sets forth the minimum standards to be implemented. Provides that all criminal justice information systems subject to this Act shall include operating procedures which are consistent with the regulations established and promulgated by the Attorney General. Sets forth operating procedures which must be included in all criminal justice information systems as a minimum. Provides that each agency which operates an automated criminal justice information system subject to this Act shall publish notice at least once a year of: (1) its existence, (2) the nature of the system, (3) policies regarding storage, duration of retention and dissemination, (4) procedures whereby an individual can review criminal offender record information regarding himself; (5) the title, name and business address of the person immediately responsible for the system. Sets forth administrative sanctions and civil and criminal penalties for acts contrary to, or in violation of, the provisions of this Act. Directs the Attorney General to issue regulations implementing this Act. Authorizes the appropriation of such funds as may be necessary for the Attorney General to implement this Act.
Written by analysts at the Congressional Research Service and published on Congress.gov, not by Civibrief. Summarized at the "Introduced in Senate" stage on February 5, 1974. It describes the bill, it is not the legal text.
Where is it in the process, and what happens next?
4 steps remain before this bill could become law.
The record's latest action, on February 5, 1974: Referred to Senate Committee on Judiciary.
- Clearing the committees it was referred to, and being scheduled for a floor vote
- Passage by the Senate
- Passage by the House
- The President's signature. If the President vetoes it, two-thirds of both chambers must vote to override.
How likely is it to become law?
Civibrief does not forecast outcomes and this page has no opinion about this one. What the record supports is a base rate, which is a fact about the whole pile, not a prediction about this measure.
In the 93rd Congress (1973-74), 651 of the 23,396 bills and joint resolutions introduced became law, about 2.8 percent. That count covers every measure at every stage, including the many that never left committee.
This one is not there yet: 4 steps are still outstanding, listed above.
Has anyone actually voted on it?
No. No roll call in this Congress cites this measure. That is the ordinary outcome: most measures never reach a recorded floor vote, and a committee ends most of them simply by not acting.
A vote is not the only thing that happens to a measure. Hearings, markups, and referrals are all recorded actions, and none of them is a vote of the full chamber.
Who is behind it?
ROMAN HRUSKA (R-NE) introduced it on February 5, 1974, and 11 members have since signed on as cosponsors.
They come from both major parties: 3 Democrats, 8 Republicans.
Cosponsoring is a formal signature on the text. It is not a commitment to vote for the measure, it does not bind anyone's party, and a long list of cosponsors is a measure of attention rather than of prospects.
How long has it been in play?
It was introduced on February 5, 1974, 19210 days ago. The most recent recorded action was 19210 days ago, on February 5, 1974.
Measures do not carry over. Anything the 93rd Congress has not finished by January 3, 1975 dies when the term ends, and has to be introduced again from the start in the next Congress.
Every answer above is assembled from this measure's own record on Congress.gov and from published counts of what Congress has passed before. Civibrief does not predict outcomes and takes no position on any measure.
Vote history
- SenateIn committee, no floor vote yet
- HouseAwaits Senate passage
- PresidentAwaits both chambers