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.
