SEARCH

States Make Steady Progress Toward FBI Rap Back Implementation

Michael Jacobson — Wed, 16 Jul 2025 19:40:33 +0000

In a continued effort to support the implementation of the FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) Rap Back service, SEARCH recently conducted a nationwide survey to assess the current status of Rap Back adoption across U.S. states. The findings reveal a landscape of varied progress, legislative hurdles, and growing interest in both criminal and non-criminal justice Rap Back.

What Is Rap Back?

The FBI’s NGI Rap Back service allows authorized agencies to receive ongoing updates about individuals who have undergone fingerprint-based background checks. This continuous monitoring is especially valuable for employment, licensing, and criminal justice supervision. (For more information about Rap Back, see SEARCH’s recent blog post.)

Survey Overview

Between June 15 and June 30, 2025, SEARCH collected responses from 32 states through an online questionnaire. The survey aimed to capture the current state of Rap Back implementation, both at the federal and state levels.

Key Findings

FBI Noncriminal Justice FBI NGI Rap Back

11 states are currently implementing the program.
3 states are in the planning phase.
18 states are not currently participating.

FBI Criminal Justice FBI NGI Rap Back

4 states are currently implementing the program.
6 states are in the planning phase.
20 states are not currently participating.
2 states did not respond to this question.

In-State Rap Back Programs

14 states offer in-state Rap Back for non-criminal justice purposes.
4 states offer it for criminal justice purposes only.
3 states support both.
10 states do not have an in-state Rap Back program.
1 state is in the planning phase.

Legislative Support

4 states are actively working on legislation to support FBI Noncriminal Justice Rap Back.
10 states already have the necessary legislation in place.
18 states are not pursuing legislative changes at this time.

Implementation Highlights

Fully Implemented (Noncriminal FBI Rap Back): Utah, Texas, and Michigan lead the way with full implementations.
Partially Implemented (Noncriminal FBI Rap Back): Arizona, and Nevada have limited or agency-specific implementations. Virginia began taking subscriptions for Noncriminal FBI Rap Back on July 1, 2025.
In Progress (Criminal FBI Rap Back): States like Idaho and Kansas are in testing or development stages.
Not Pursuing: States such as Connecticut, Maine, and Wisconsin are not currently working toward FBI Rap Back implementation.

Challenges and Considerations

States cited several barriers to implementation:

Legislative approval remains a key hurdle in states like South Carolina and North Dakota.
Funding constraints are slowing progress in states like Oregon and Georgia.
Operational feasibility concerns, such as Louisiana’s difficulty meeting a 5-day update requirement, also play a role.

Diverse Use Cases

States are leveraging Rap Back in different ways:

Criminal justice monitoring (e.g., Washington, Minnesota).
Non-criminal justice applications like employment and licensing (e.g., New Mexico, Nevada).
Selective agency participation (e.g., Georgia, Vermont).

Discussions with the FBI NGI Rap Back Team

Recent discussions with the FBI NGI Rap Back team revealed that:

Two states are actively working with the FBI team towards implementation, Virginia for Noncriminal Justice and Idaho for Criminal Justice.
Ten states, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, are currently enrolled in the FBI Noncriminal Justice Rap Back program.
Three states, Arizona, Oregon, and California are approved to use the FBI Noncriminal Justice Rap Back program but are not yet submitting subscriptions.
Hawaii and Texas are currently enrolled in the FBI Criminal Justice Rap Back program.
Washington is approved to submit subscriptions to the Criminal Justice Rap Back program, but they are not yet submitting subscriptions.

Looking Ahead

As more states explore the benefits of continuous background monitoring, the momentum behind Rap Back adoption is growing. With legislative support, funding, and technical readiness, many states are poised to expand their use of this powerful tool in the near future.

Contact Us

If you have suggestions for topics you would like to see highlighted in a future SEARCH blog, or if you have specific questions about this briefing, please contact Michael Jacobson (mjacobson@search.org).

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Colorado Bureau of Investigation Assistant Director Appointed to SEARCH Membership Group

SEARCH — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 16:23:25 +0000

SEARCH is pleased to announce the appointment of Colorado Bureau of Investigations Assistant Director Mr. Ross Sibley to the SEARCH Membership Group.

Mr. Sibley is responsible for the management, oversight, and operation of the Support Services Section to include: the Crime Information Management Unit, the Biometric Identification Unit and the InstaCheck Unit as well as systems used by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.. His appointment to the SEARCH Membership Group by Director Chris Schaefer is effective April 15, 2025.

Mr. Sibley served as an alternate SEARCH member since June 2023.

SEARCH Members and Staff welcome and congratulate Mr. Sibley on his appointment.

The SEARCH Membership Group, the governing body of SEARCH, is comprised of one appointee from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories (selected by the jurisdiction’s governor or director of the agency housing the state criminal history record repository), as well as eight at-large appointees selected by SEARCH’s Chair. This national body of state-level professionals is widely representative of the various disciplines within the justice system, and many are responsible for operational decisions and policymaking concerning the management and sharing of criminal justice information.

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SEARCH Assists States with Implementing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Next Generation Identification (NGI) Rap Back Service

SEARCH — Tue, 13 May 2025 17:08:14 +0000

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Next Generation Identification (NGI) Rap Back Service allows authorized government agencies to receive notification of subsequent criminal justice activity regarding individuals who hold positions of trust or are under criminal justice supervision or investigation.

Several states are collaborating with the FBI to implement the NGI Rap Back service, which keeps authorized entities informed of updates to an individual’s criminal history. Agencies enrolled in the service have a continuing need to monitor individuals in positions of trust such as schoolteachers, daycare workers, or those under criminal justice supervision or investigation.

Rap Back provides automatic notifications of new information reported to the FBI, reducing the need for repeated background checks. The NGI Rap Back system delivers ongoing alerts to both criminal justice and noncriminal justice organizations regarding significant developments related to individuals enrolled in Rap Back such as warrants, arrests, court dispositions, or sex offender registrations. More information about Rap Back can be found at:

States implementing Rap Back for non-criminal justice subscribers must enact legislation authorizing the criminal history repository of the state to disseminate criminal history information to authorized entities, retain fingerprints, and allow subscribing entities to receive Rap Back event notifications from the FBI. The FBI verifies this statutory authority and helps states establish their Rap Back program through Appendix 2: The Next Generation Identification Noncriminal Justice Rap Back Service Participation Plan for the .

Appendix 2 is a mandatory document designed to guide the FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division and Rap Back Submitters (including state identification bureaus) through the requirements for providing Rap Back services to potential Subscribing Entities (including authorized public sector employers or licensing entities). Before initiating NGI Rap Back services, Submitters must coordinate with the FBI CJIS Division to ensure the necessary infrastructure and FBI connectivity is in place.

The purpose of Appendix 2 is to assist Submitters in determining the most effective method for integrating the national, noncriminal justice Rap Back service into their applicant processing, and it serves as a key resource for identifying appropriate procedures and implementing NGI Rap Back functionality.

SEARCH staff assisted several states (including Hawaii, Tennessee and ) with developing their Appendix 2 documentation for approval by the FBI and implementing the requirements of Appendix 2 within their state. If your state is interested in implementing the FBI Noncriminal Justice Rap Back program or has questions about the Rap Back program, contact Michael Jacobson at mjacobson@search.org.

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2025 SEARCH Winter Meeting: Recap and Photos

SEARCH — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 17:18:19 +0000

2025 Winter Meeting Resources

SEARCH’s 2025 Winter Membership Group Meeting brought together over 130 attendees from 45 states, convening in person at the Columbia Marriott in downtown Columbia, South Carolina.

Held from January 28–30, the meeting featured a dynamic lineup of speakers from state and federal agencies, national organizations, and private industry. The event opened on January 28th with a welcoming address from South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette, setting the stage for engaging presentations and insightful discussions.

As SEARCH’s governing body, the Membership Group meets twice per year to discuss, analyze, and strategize on critical policy, operational, and technical issues affecting the criminal justice system. These meetings encourage and promote collaboration among federal and state partners, industry experts, and SEARCH Members. They encourage discussions around ideas about new programs, services, and emerging trends, while also offering a platform to address state-level challenges and needs.

Key Sessions from the 2025 Winter Membership Group Meeting:

Executive & Board Updates: Updates from the Executive Director and Board of Directors, including a recap of the September 2024 Board Retreat.
Future of SEARCH: Discussion on SEARCH’s direction for 2025 and beyond, with an inward focus on the organization and improving member engagement.
SEARCH Member Roundtable: Open forum for members to discuss key topics, share experiences, and report on programs.
Bureau of Justice Statistics Briefing: Overview of strategic initiatives, funding outlook for NCHIP, and improvements to national crime data reporting.
NCHIP & Disposition Improvement Project: Efforts to improve criminal history disposition reporting in states with low reporting rates.
Criminal History Data Quality: Updates on data quality metrics and new templates for states to track and enhance data quality.
Judicial Information Sharing: Collaboration with the National Center for State Courts to improve disposition reporting and data sharing.
FBI CJIS Division Updates: FBI updates on budget, policy priorities, new disposition tracking systems, and the NGI Gateway for automated reporting.
TSA Enrollment Services Update: Overview of TSA’s use of criminal history records in vetting programs.
Digital Forensics Program Update: Insights into cybercrime training, digital forensics, and AI applications in law enforcement.
Government Affairs Update: Review of federal legislative activities and their impact on state criminal justice operations.
Louisiana Criminal Justice Project: Case study on governance structures and technical solutions to improve criminal justice data sharing.

SEARCH thanks our Sponsors of the 2025 Winter Membership Group Meeting

Photos from the 2025 Winter Meeting

South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette provided the Host Jurisdiction Welcome.

South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette expressed her support of SEARCH efforts.

TSA Program Analyst Samuel Smith described their agency’s use of state criminal history information for enrollment and vetting in familiar passenger programs such as Pre-Check and Global Entry.

SEARCH Executive Director Derek Veitenheimer set the set the stage for a full agenda with many important updates from state and federal partners, including BJS, FBI CJIS, and TSA.

The SEARCH Membership Group, the governing body of SEARCH, is comprised of one gubernatorial appointee from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories, as well as eight at-large appointees selected by SEARCH’s Chair. This national body of state-level professionals is widely representative of the various disciplines within the justice system, and many are responsible for operational decisions and policymaking concerning the management of criminal justice.

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Pennsylvania State Police Official Appointed to SEARCH Membership Group

SEARCH — Fri, 03 Jan 2025 17:48:54 +0000

SEARCH is pleased to announce the appointment of Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Kyle L. Kutz to the SEARCH Membership Group.

Lt. Kutz is Director of the Criminal Records and Identification Division within the State Police Bureau of Records and Identification. His appointment to the SEARCH Membership Group by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is effective January 4, 2025.

Lt. Kutz replaces Pennsylvania’s previous SEARCH representative, Lt. Earl H. Rhoades, who had served in that role since March 2024.

SEARCH Members and Staff welcome and congratulate Lt. Kutz on his appointment.

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Registration Opens for 2025 SEARCH Winter Membership Meeting

SEARCH — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 18:01:15 +0000

Registration is now open for SEARCH’s 2025 Winter Membership Group Meeting, which takes place January 28–30, 2025, at the Columbia Marriott Hotel in Columbia, SC.

Our 2025 Winter Meeting will feature addresses by federal officials and organizational partners, as well as workshops geared to state criminal history repository administrators, updates on legislative activities, and more. We are also hosting a networking reception on Tuesday, January 29.

Visit the 2025 Winter Meeting site for details, which include:

Hotel and travel arrangements. A link is provided to make online reservations at the Columbia Marriott, located at 1200 Hampton St. The deadline for hotel reservations is Monday, January 6, 2025.
Register. Use the convenient online form to register for the meeting.
Agenda & Events. We are planning a full agenda of workshop sessions, presentations and roundtable discussions. We will post the agenda on the 2025 Winter Meeting site soon.
Sponsor. We offer a variety of sponsorship opportunities to private industry.
Local sites. The meeting venue is located near many popular landmarks in Columbia.

Meeting Announcement
Sponsor Prospectus
Agenda (coming soon)

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SEARCH Headquarters Has New Address as of November 1

SEARCH — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 15:32:32 +0000

Effective November 1, 2024, SEARCH has moved its headquarters to the following address:

7801 Folsom Boulevard, Suite 105
Sacramento, CA 95826

Our telephone number remains the same: (916) 392-2550. If you need to reach SEARCH Staff, use the Contact Us form on our website

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Indiana State Police Major Joins SEARCH Board of Directors

SEARCH — Fri, 01 Nov 2024 15:32:09 +0000

Major Robert Simpson, who serves as Indiana’s governor-appointed representative to the SEARCH Membership Group, has moved onto the SEARCH Board of Directors, effective November 1, 2024.

He fills a vacancy left by former SEARCH Delaware Member, Ms. Lisa Voss. Ms. Voss had served on the SEARCH Membership since 2017, including two terms as Vice Chair of the SEARCH. She stepped down from the Membership and Board after retiring from state service October 31.

Major Simpson will serve the remainder of Ms. Voss’s two-year Board term, which expires in July 2026. He is Assistant Chief of Staff, Communications and Information Systems, in the Indiana State Police. He has been a SEARCH Member since his appointment by Governor Eric Holcomb in November 2021.

The 15-member SEARCH Board of Directors, selected by the full Membership Group, provides general oversight and translates corporate goals and objectives into program directives and operating policies.

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Governor Appointees from Alabama and Texas Join SEARCH Membership Group

SEARCH — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 17:49:15 +0000

SEARCH is pleased to announce the appointment of new Members representing the states of Alabama and Texas to serve on the SEARCH Membership Group:

Captain Mike Trotter, CJIS Services Manager, Criminal Justice Information Services Division, State Bureau of Investigations, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), was appointed August 26, 2024, by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey.

The ALEA CJIS Division houses the state’s Sex Offender Registry, Criminal Records Identification, Latent Print, Incident Reporting, and Compliance units. Each unit provides services to the public and law enforcement agencies

Captain Trotter succeeds Mr. Avery Morris, who served as Alabama’s SEARCH Member for 2 years before retiring.

Ms. Catalina Rodriguez Combs, Senior Director, Crime Records Service, Texas Department of Public Safety, was appointed September 9, 2024, by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

The Texas DPS Crime Records Division is responsible for administering eight state and national criminal justice programs, providing critical operational data to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies in Texas and nationwide. One of these programs, the Crime Records Service, administers systems for biometric identification, fingerprinting, data sharing, sex offender registration, crime reporting, and more. As SEARCH Member, Ms. Rodriguez-Combs succeeds Ms. Michelle Farris, who had served as Texas’s SEARCH Member since January 2021 and also had served on the SEARCH Board of Directors. Ms. Farris retired from state service in August 2024.

SEARCH Members and Staff welcome and congratulate Captain Trotter and Ms. Rodriguez-Combs on their appointments.

The SEARCH Membership Group, the governing body of SEARCH, is comprised of one from each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories (selected by the jurisdiction’s governor or director of the agency housing the state criminal history record repository), as well as eight at-large appointees selected by SEARCH’s Chair. This national body of state-level professionals is widely representative of the various disciplines within the justice system, and many are responsible for operational decisions and policymaking concerning the management and sharing of criminal justice information.

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Survey Offers National Snapshot of State Criminal History Information Operations as of Year-End 2022

SEARCH — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:38:58 +0000

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has published the findings of a biennial national survey that represents the most current and detailed snapshot of the data, trends, policies, practices, and operations of state criminal history records repositories nationwide.

Downloadable 2022 Survey
2022 Survey Abstract Page

SEARCH conducted the survey with support of BJS, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. It is the 17^th survey of criminal history information systems that SEARCH has conducted for BJS in a series dating back to 1989.

As part of its National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP), BJS supports these biennial surveys, together with substantial direct funding to states and territories to improve the quality, timeliness, and accessibility of criminal history and related records, and a host of other research, conferences, workshops, and technical assistance.

The 2022 report provides results from a survey of the administrators of state criminal history records repositories conducted May–July 2023 for calendar year information ending December 31, 2022. SEARCH surveyed 56 jurisdictions, including the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam submitted survey responses.

The survey findings are very detailed and provide insight into:

the volume of records and transactions processed by repositories,
operational policies and best practices,
levels of automation,
measures of data quality and timeliness,
types of records and systems maintained,
cite and release authorities and practices,
sealing and expungement practices, and more.

To provide operational context for these findings, SEARCH plans to publish a series of short blogs that highlight key findings from the survey in the coming weeks.

Direct questions about the 2022 survey to becki@search.org.

NCJ Number: 309360
Authors: Becki R. Goggins, Dennis A. DeBacco
Date Published: Sept. 19, 2024

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