Federal Cooperative Agreement Summary

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety received a $1,906,031 Cooperative Agreement award from the Bureau of Justice Statistics under the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP, CFDA 16.554), effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029. The award funds comprehensive criminal history system modernization and compliance activities designed to enhance the completeness and accuracy of Minnesota's criminal history records for use by criminal justice and non-criminal justice agencies. Key deliverables include: (1) Criminal History System (CHS) contractor updates to modernize technology infrastructure and improve long-term system supportability; (2) MarkLogic database licenses to accommodate current operational needs and future system expansion; (3) Minnesota Information Technology (MNIT) support services for the CHS development team to ensure daily system stability and data accuracy; and (4) replacement of 26 aged and unsupported LiveScan fingerprint machines, which currently process 99% of the state's criminal submissions electronically.

The award also funds specialized compliance and data quality activities. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension will conduct criminal history record improvement initiatives, including identification and control of records lacking FBI Universal Control Numbers and enhancement of juvenile criminal history record completeness and accuracy. Additionally, the Department of Public Safety will hire auditors to conduct triennial FBI-required audits of 132 non-criminal justice agencies accessing FBI and Bureau of Criminal Apprehension criminal history information, and audits of Minnesota criminal justice agencies using FBI systems to ensure accuracy of wanted persons and protection order records.