2003 SCAAP Results

The following represents the results of the electronic data vetting performed by the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Department of Homeland Security, for the 805 state and local jurisdictions that successfully submitted an online application for FY2003:

Total inmate records submitted to BJA: 403,743

Total inmate records reviewed by ICE: 284,325

ICE Data Vetting Results of 284,325 Records:

Total Eligible: 93,489

Total Unknown: 121,618

Total Ineligible: 51,680

Total Invalid: 17,538

ICE Categorical Definitions:

Unique: Records adjusted to create one file per inmate, incorporating aliases, multiple periods of incarceration, etc.

Eligible: Confirmed through ICE data vetting as an undocumented alien.

Unknown: No direct match of the inmate in ICE databases.

Ineligible: ICE records that show the inmate, at time of incarceration, had sufficient legal status and is not considered undocumented for purposes of SCAAP.

Invalid: Inmate record had the United States or one of the U.S. territories as country of birth, and no direct match in ICE databases.

FY 2003 Payment Formula Calculation

The FY 2003 SCAAP payment formula is derived through a multi-step process:

(1) Using financial data the applicants supplied via the online GMS system, a per diem rate is calculated for each jurisdiction. Specifically, a rate is determined using each applicant's annual correctional officer salary costs and the total number of all inmate days (i.e. total number of days all inmates were held by the applicant jurisdiction, regardless of citizenship status). This year, the average per diem rate was $23.50 per inmate.

(2) ICE analyzes the inmate records and provides the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) with a data report that delineates each applicant's number of eligible, unknown, ineligible, and invalid inmates, and each category's respective number of inmate days.

(3) Each jurisdiction's total eligible inmate days and a percentage of the unknown days are totaled; that total is then multiplied by the applicant's per diem rate, to derive the total correctional officer salary costs for eligible and unknown inmate days for the reporting period. The percentage used for unknown days is determined by a sliding scale, developed by ICE, which gives credit to jurisdictions, by type. The current scale credits cities 60 percent, states 65 percent, and counties 80 percent of their total unknown inmate days.

(4) The value of each applicant's correctional officer salary costs associated with its eligible and credited unknown inmate days are then totaled. This total value reflects the maximum amount subject to reimbursement by BJA for the reporting period. A percentage factor is then developed to reflect the relationship between the maximum reimbursable salary costs and program's annual appropriation. For FY 2003, this factor was approximately 36 percent - essentially, each jurisdiction's award was 36 percent of its total salary cost for eligible and credited unknown inmate days.

The payment formula calculation process occurs only one time, using all of the data provided by each participating jurisdiction, the annual appropriation, and ICE data vetting results. If a jurisdiction discovers errors or problems with its data after the awards are calculated (e.g., through an outside audit), the system-wide factor (i.e. 36 percent) remains unchanged and any required future adjustments to a payment amount will use this factor.

Example of a Jurisdiction's Payment Calculation for FY 2003 Program:

Jurisdiction's Total Salary Costs: $4,407,099.00

Jurisdiction's Total Number of All Inmate Days: 200,385

Jurisdiction's Per Diem Cost Per Inmate (Total Salary/Total Inmate Days): $21.99

Per Diem Cost Per Inmate: $21.99

Total Illegal Inmate Days (Per ICE): 13,853	(combines eligible and % of unknown days)

Salary Costs for Illegal Inmate Days (Per Diem x Illegal Days): $304,627.

Salary Costs for Illegal Inmate Days ONLY: $304,627.

FY2003 SCAAP Payment Ratio (varies each year): 36 percent

SCAAP Payment Amount: $109,665.

In general, a wide variance will exist between the total amount of salary costs reported by jurisdictions and the final SCAAP payment amount. This variance is due to adjustments for unknown, ineligible, or invalid inmate records, combined with appropriation levels that normally cover only a portion of the total salary costs associated with verified undocumented criminal aliens.

ICE Vetting Process for SCAAP Inmate Files

(1) The applicant records are first processed through the Central Index System (CIS). CIS primarily identifies the location of alien data files and provides certain information about their immigration status. ICE checks CIS first because the system contains a record for every alien with whom ICE has had significant contact. CIS is the best place to look for aliens who have maintained legal status or become naturalized. Aliens that have been placed in removal proceedings should also be in CIS, but the details of their case are not available in this system.

(2) After CIS, the applicant records are processed through the Deportable Alien Control System (DACS). DACS is a repository of information about aliens who have been placed in removal proceedings. DACS will have the outcome, if any, of those cases that include an order of removal, a grant of relief, or an administrative closure. The record matching process does not depend on a match in CIS, but it will use that information if available.

(3) The third stage is to process the records through ICE's version of the Executive Office for Immigration Review database. This step is necessary to help ascertain when an alien was placed in proceedings and the alien's legal status during times of reported incarceration. Under SCAAP rules, such aliens become eligible for payment if they were placed in proceedings before the period of incarceration began.

In each system, ICE first attempts to make a match based on an ICE A-number, if one was supplied by the applicant jurisdiction. Without an A-number, the CIS data review process attempts an FBI number match, if provided. If neither the A-number nor FBI number are available, the ICE data vetting process seeks a match based on the exact name and date of birth. ICE uses a set of routines to try variations on names in its multiple attempts to make a successful match.