October 1, 2005 Georgia law enforcement agencies will be allowed to perform III name based background inquiries (IQ, FQ and QW) via the CJIS network on Hurricane Katrina relief workers, volunteers and evacuees with access to children. For the purposes of this temporary program, volunteers include individuals/residents opening their homes to displaced persons. Background checks are temporarily authorized under the federal regulations regarding the emergency placement of children. Following are the conditions that must be followed for performing these searches.

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  NUMBER: APD.TM.RCT.05.12  EFFECTIVE DATE:  10-1-05

 

SUBJECT: Criminal History Inquiry Checks on Hurricane Katrina Evacuees, Relief Workers, and Volunteers

 

DISTRIBUTION:      All Employees             

 

APPROVAL  AUTHORITY  TITLE :      Academy Director

 

SIGNATURE: Lt. M.A. Perdue               DATE: 10-1-05

     
 

Georgia law enforcement agencies will be allowed to perform III name based background inquiries (IQ, FQ and QW) via the CJIS network on Hurricane Katrina relief workers, volunteers and evacuees with access to children.  For the purposes of this temporary program, volunteers include individuals/residents opening their homes to displaced persons.  Background checks are temporarily authorized under the federal regulations regarding the emergency placement of children.  Following are the conditions that must be followed for performing these searches.

 

1.         The inquiry must be performed on a person related to Hurricane Katrina for the purpose of protecting a child.  For example, the relief worker who will come into contact with children, evacuees that will be placed in a home or an area with children, or a housing provider who will bring evacuee children into their home.

 

2.         The III name based query must be conducted with Purpose Code “X” and the Agency Reference Number (ARN) Field must contain the word “Katrina”.  Purpose Code X permits both the Georgia and III record check.

 

3.         A wanted persons (QW) query may also be completed.  The information returned from these inquiries can only be used to make determinations about protecting a child and each local law enforcement agency should use their best judgment in using the information for that purpose.

 

4.         As a reminder, information received from the CCH/III and Violent Gang and Terrorist Organization (VGTOF) file cannot be disseminated or released.   The law enforcement agency completing the name based criminal history record checks is required to provide fitness determination decisions regarding the relief worker, evacuee or volunteer. 

 

5.         Federal requirements mandate the inquiry must be followed with fingerprints to the GCIC, which will be forwarded to the FBI.  Fingerprints must be submitted to GCIC within 10 days of the name based query unless the placement or assignment is cancelled.  Agencies are encouraged to maintain a log or file regarding cancelled placements/assignments to support the absence of fingerprint submission.

 

6.         The FBI $24.00 fee for the subsequent fingerprint search is being waived by the FBI until November 7, 2005.   To ensure the submitting agency is not charged, and to audit compliance of fingerprint submissions, the agency must include the following information on the fingerprint card or submission.

 

a.    Manual (mailed) cards

 Case Number field (OCA) must contain “GAKAT000Z”

 Reason Fingerprinted must be “GAKAT000Z Emergency Placement”

 

b.    Electronic (livescan) cards

Case Number field (OCA) must contain “GAKAT000Z”

Reason Fingerprinted (RFP) field should be selected from the code table as “Hurricane Katrina Emergency Placement”.  If the device has not yet been upgraded by the vendor, the agency should key “GAKAT000Z Emergency Placement” in the Reason Fingerprinted field.

 

7.         Both Georgia and FBI criminal history record responses from the fingerprint based checks will be returned to the submitting law enforcement agency.  Dissemination of those responses to other than governmental entities should be handled via a written waiver from the subject.

 

8.         Emergency placement queries for the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS) must still be routed through the Department of Human Resources’ Office of Investigative Services.

 

These provisions are being made because of the extraordinary circumstances of the hurricane relief effort.  Questions should be directed to the GCIC’s Integrated CJIS Data Center (ICDC) at (404) 244-2770 where they will be routed for proper response.  Moreover, you may contact your immediate supervisor, the APD communications supervisor (404) 8172382 or to the academy staff at (404) 209-5250.