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