State Audit: TBI Needs Better Record Keeping

[TMMT]

State Audit: TBI Needs Better Record Keeping

Bureau Doesn't Always Have The Most Up-To-Date Information, Says Audit

State Audit: TBI Needs Better Record Keeping - Nashville News Story - WSMV Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The public relies on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for criminal background checks. The purpose is to weed out those who shouldn't be working in schools or buying guns.

The TBI is essentially the criminal information hub for the entire state, meaning they are the collection point for every arrest made in Tennessee.

A recent state audit of the TBI reveals the bureau still does not know the disposition of many arrests.

A disposition lists what charge a person was arrested on, the final charge, and their sentence. It's important to have the most accurate disposition information so background checks will also be accurate.

Every month, court clerks across the state are required to send the disposition information to the Administrative Office of the Courts, or AOC.

To slow the process, as of June, the majority of Tennessee's 91 counties were still mailing the information.

From the AOC, the dispositions are then passed on to the TBI.

The problem is that according to the audit, of the state's more than 2 million arrests between February 2001 and September of 2008, 41 percent lacked a disposition.

That's actually an improvement, at one point 77 percent of arrests lacked disposition information. Their goal though is 0 percent.

Without accurate and up-to-date criminal information, background checks for jobs in schools, or gun purchases can be delayed or just plain wrong.

The TBI did not want to comment on this audit until their hearing next week with the comptroller's office.

That is standard policy for any state agency that is audited. They will discuss their plan to improve on the findings.

According to the audit, the TBI plans to automate this system by 2011.

Still though, that won't solve all the problems.

The state has to determine which agency will be responsible for submitting the information.

[Falcon1]

I saw the report on Channel 4, and I was left with the feeling that it was somewhat of a cheap shot against the TBI. The TBI relies upon the individual courts to send them the correct information in a timely manner. If the courts do not do so, it seems to me that that fault lies with the courts who are supposed to be providing the information, not the TBI. The TBI cannot make up the information out of thin air.

[TMMT]

Audit Criticizes ABC License Background Checks

Audit Criticizes ABC License Background Checks - Nashville News Story - WSMV Nashville

Seems to be a pattern here.