The
Federal Bureau of Investigation has joined the American
Football Coaches Association (AFCA) in the distribution
of the National Child Identification Program (NCIP). The
NCIP allows for children, beginning at age four to be
fingerprinted with the identification information being
maintained by parents. The announcement came during the
AFCA's annual convention in San Antonio, Texas.
The
FBI, through its Criminal Justice Information Services
(CJIS) Division, located in Clarksburg, West Virginia,
was represented by Supervisory Special Agent John S. Hooks,
Jr., and William P. Holley, Program Manager of the CJIS
Division's Community Outreach Program. The AFCA was represented
by its Executive Director, Grant Teaff, and Kenny Hansmire,
Director of the AFCA's National Child Identification Program.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed formalizing the
partnership.
Both
the FBI and the AFCA have existing Community Outreach
Programs that encourage parents and guardians to maintain
fingerprints of their children in the event they are involved
in a disaster or foul play. The AFCA has sponsored the
National Child Identification Program (NCIP) for several
years, distributing inkless fingerprint kits to enable
parents and guardians to fingerprint their children for
identification purposes. To date, 9,300,000 kits have
been distributed in the United States, mostly at college
football games. The largest distribution occurred in Texas
when then Governor George W. Bush joined the association
in soliciting the assistance of Texas school districts
for statewide fingerprint kit distribution.
The
FBI and other law enforcement agencies have operated similar
programs for many years with standard fingerprint cards
and ink. To heighten their efforts, the partnership will
promote the distribution of the NCIP kits through state
and local law enforcement agencies. Many of the FBI's
56 Field Offices located throughout the United States
will partner with college football coaches in their territories
to facilitate the distribution of the inkless NCIP kits.
According
to AFCA Executive Director Grant Teaff, "The AFCA
Board of Trustees and its members are very excited about
working with the FBI and are deeply grateful to have an
opportunity for doing something for the youth of this
country that has never been done before."
"FBI
Community Outreach Programs provide crime, drug, gang,
violence prevention, and educational programs that meet
the growing needs of our communities. The AFCA is a respected
organization with a track record of community programs
and leadership. The FBI is proud to partner with the AFCA
in the distribution of the NCIP kits which will be an
unprecedented addition to our current programs and a wonderful
benefit to all communities throughout the nation,"
said Supervisory Special Agent Hooks.
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