FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE AG TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1994 (202) 616-0189 TDD (202) 514-1888 AG RENO DEMONSTRATES NEW INS INSPECTION TECHNOLOGY, HIGHLIGHTS FIVE OTHER JUSTICE CUSTOMER SERVICE INITIATIVES AS PART OF ADMINISTRATION'S CAMPAIGN TO REINVENT GOVERNMENT WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Attorney General Janet Reno today demonstrated the Immigration and Naturalization Service's new INSPASS technology and released information on five other Justice Department customer service initiatives to help fulfill the administration's pledge to reinvent government. "INSPASS shows that government has learned what citizens and the private sector already know -- that effective customer service must be a central part of our mission," said Reno. "This is one of many important steps aimed toward making the Department of Justice and the federal government more responsive to the American people, and to creating a government that is more effective and costs less." The INSPASS system is designed to process frequent international travelers through the inspection process in less than a minute. It uses state-of-the-art "hand biometric" identification technology to help international travelers bypass the normal inspection procedures as they arrive in the United States. Currently being tested at JFK airport and in Toronto by certain frequent business travelers, diplomats, and flight crews, INSPASS is being tested for expansion to other U.S. ports-of-entry. "INSPASS serves two critical INS missions," said Reno. "It makes legal entry into the U.S. more convenient, while helping the INS crack down on document fraud and deter illegal entries." "If this country is to vie for its fair share of the increasing travel market, we must find more ways to be customer focused," said Under Secretary of Commerce Greg Farmer. "Inspass enables us to do just that. It takes "palm-reading" to a new level and greatly enhances the future for the travel and tourism industry." Reno also released information on the Department's other customer service initiatives. "The central mission of this department is to protect public safety and insure justice for all," she said. "But we must never forget as we go about this task that we also have customers who depend on us -- like law enforcement officials, crime victims and witnesses, communities in need of mediation services, travelers entering the United States, and any member of the public seeking more information about their government through the Freedom of Information Act. When I think about customer service, I think about what kind of service I would want my brother or sister to receive from the government," she added. The initiative is part of the Administration's campaign to implement the recommendations of the National Performance Review on "reinventing government." Every cabinet member held an event today highlighting the Administration's customer service initiative, which the President and Vice President announced from the White House. INFORMATION ON DOJ CUSTOMER SERVICE INITIATIVES The Department of Justice today released information on six ongoing projects as part of its customer service campaign: 1. FBI -- Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS): The IAFIS system will provide law enforcement agencies across America with rapid response to fingerprint identification requests. Current requests take an average of 21 days to process; IAFIS will ultimately process arrestee fingerprints in 2 hours and employment and licensing fingerprints in 24 hours. 2. U.S. Attorneys -- Victim-Witness Assistance: Victims and witnesses are among the Department's most important customers, and U.S. Attorneys have provided comprehensive, easy to understand information for victims and witnesses. Their handbook has been revised to clarify and emphasize victims rights to obtain up to date information on the detention status of an offender and the charges filed against them, plea agreements, and sentencing information. The government will also make sure that victims and witnesses understand their rights to courtroom waiting areas separate from defendants, emotional assistance, travel and lodging assistance, and referrals to other agencies for assistance. 3. INS -- Traveller Assistance: The INS will reduce entry inspection time though INSPASS and other reforms, vastly simplify its "Ask Immigration" telephone service, schedule naturalization interviews within four months, and review permanent residence applications within 90 days of filing. 4. CRS -- Conflict Prevention and Resolution Program: The Department's Community Relations Service (CRS), which works on the ground in troubled communities to help prevent and mediate potentially violent situations, will now guarantee on-site response to major racial and ethnic conflicts within 24 hours of notification. 5. FBI -- National Crime Information Center (NCIC 2000 and Uniform Crime Reports): When fully operational in 1996, NCIC 2000 will provide police cruisers with photograph and fingerprint images and customers with 24-hour access to crime information. Updated Uniform Crime Reports will provide dramatically more information and statistics on crime in America. These services were designed in consultation with state and local law enforcement officials across the country. 6. DOJ -- Expedited Freedom of Information Act Requests: The Department guarantees prompt acknowledgement of FOIA requests, "first-come first-serve" processing, phone calls returned within three working days, clear responses, and customer surveys to ensure standards are met. ### 94-535