Deputy Director
Wisconsin Department of Justice
Crime Information Bureau
608.267.2235
collinspe@doj.state.wi.us
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/dles/cib/crimhist.asp
Wisconsin's Criminal History Repository provides law enforcement agencies with criminal record information and reports new repository activity to the FBI. The repository provides immediate comparison-matching of real-time positive identification of criminals through fingerprints and palm prints. The repository has a web interface so that record checks may be done online and also contains DNA sampling information.
The information stored in the Criminal History Repository is stored in electronic format at the Department of Justice, and all paper submittals are converted and stored in electronic format. Interfaces with the Consolidated Court Automation Program (CCAP) and the District Attorney's Case Management System are used to transfer case deposition information to the Criminal History Repository. These interfaces electronically post over 400 dispositions each day for offenders to the repository, and makes sure law enforcement agencies have the most recent criminal history information. The repository is a relational database run on UNIX servers and equipped with LiveScan and CardScan equipment which are used for transmitting data according to standards of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The repository can be accessed through the internet by all persons authorized to obtain access under Wisconsin State law.
The Criminal History Repository is used by various agencies for background checks, gun purchases, licensing, and can also be used for non-criminal justice purposes according to national law and practice. Other parties who are responsible for reporting information to the repository and who use the information it provides include: law enforcement agencies; prosecuting attorneys; courts; probation and parole officers; the Department of Corrections and county jails.
Data from the repository is published.
All arrest information is positively supported by fingerprints. Any challenges to the accuracy of information or personal identification can usually be resolved by fingerprint comparison.
All arrest information is based on arrest fingerprint cards submitted by Wisconsin law enforcement agencies. If an arrest card is not submitted arrest information cannot be added to the database.
Data undergoes several edit checks before being posted to the database. New fingerprint submissions are checked against fingerprints stored in the database to positively identify records being submitted. Periodic data quality checks are performed to ensure record completeness and accuracy.