The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is a branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), providing an online access for authorized individuals about crimes, and in some cases information on criminals. All information that is provided from many criminal justice agencies is designed to be accessible only to authorized users. The following steps are made for only those users that are authorized to obtain the information.
Instructions
NCIC records and files
1. Search through the database of the NCIC which will consist of 18 different files. Seven of the files contain records for property, such as, boats, guns, license plates and vehicles. There are 11 files that consist of records about individuals such as the convicted sexual offender registry, identity theft, immigration violators and missing persons. The database also contains some images that are associated with NCIC records to assist other agencies in identifying people or even property. There is also an Interstate Identification Index which contains automated criminal history record information and is accessible through the network's database.
2. Enter a record into the NCIC. This has to be conducted by a criminal justice agency, and then in return, this information is accessible to other law enforcement agencies nationwide. For example, an officer from a police department that participates in the NCIC network will key in information on a subject they stop during a traffic stop to determine if the vehicle is stolen or if the driver has a warrant out for their arrest. However, in order for the officer to take action, NCIC policy requires the officer's department to make contact with the other agency that entered the information to verify the information they have is current and correct. Once the record is confirmed, then the officer can conduct the arrest of the fugitive, or recover the stolen property.
3. Ensure that the security has been put in place; the NCIC has established certain measures to ensure the integrity and the privacy of the data is not breached. All the information that is passing through the network is encrypted to deter unauthorized access. All users of the system are authorized and authenticated to ensure the proper levels of access. So make sure you have the proper clearance and certification to gain access to the records.
Tips Warnings
Obtaining any records from the NCIC that is not for legitimate law enforcement or security purposes can result in criminal charges. A civilian cannot access the NCIC database on his or her own legally.
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