Tribal Access Program (TAP)
Tribal Access Program (TAP)
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched the Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information (TAP) in August 2015 and has expanded yearly to provide Tribes access to national crime information systems for federally authorized criminal and non-criminal purposes. TAP allows selected federally-recognized Tribes to more effectively serve and protect their nation’s citizens by ensuring the exchange of critical data across the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) systems and other national crime information systems.
There are currently over 90 Tribes with over 330 tribal government agencies participating in TAP.
View the list of TAP-FULL, TAP-LIGHT, and BIA Tribes by Deployment Year
View an alphabetical list of TAP-FULL, TAP-LIGHT, and BIA Tribes
View a map of TAP-FULL and TAP-LIGHT Tribes
Tribal Access Program Application
The application period for federally recognized Tribes to apply for participation in the TAP program is not currently open but we encourage Tribes to periodically check this webpage for future announcements.
Functions
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DOJ SERVES AS THE CJIS SYSTEMS AGENCY (CSA) FOR SELECTED FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED TRIBES DOJ assumes responsibility for granting network access, extending the model used by federal agencies to Tribes. DOJ ensures personnel, IT, and physical security; vetting and on-boarding; testing; training; and auditing. |
DOJ PROVIDES TWO SOLUTIONS: TAP-LIGHT AND TAP-FULL TAP-LIGHT provides agencies with the ability to conduct name-based record checks and enter person and property information, while TAP-FULL also provides the additional hardware necessary to conduct fingerprint-based criminal and non-criminal justice transactions. |
DOJ PROVIDES ENHANCED TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE TAP provides online and on-site training and assists Tribes in analyzing needs and identifying/providing appropriate solutions to maximize the value of national crime information. |
Implementation
Tribes may use TAP for all purposes authorized by federal law.
The criminal justice agencies eligible to participate in TAP are:
- Law Enforcement Agencies
- Prosecutor's Offices
- Corrections and Detention
- Criminal Courts
- Pretrial Services
- Probation and Parole
The non-criminal justice agencies eligible to participate in TAP are:
- Agencies with Sex Offender Registration responsibilities
- Agencies whose staff/volunteers have contact with or control over Indian children
- Public Housing
- Child Support Enforcement
- Head Start
- Agencies investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children
- Civil Courts issuing orders of protection, injunctions, restraining orders, or other keep away orders
TAP helps Tribes as they protect their communities in a variety of ways. Among other things, Tribes can:
- Enter orders of protection making them accessible for enforcement both on and off Tribal land
- Register sex offenders in compliance with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
- Enter information to prevent illegal gun purchases
- Enter arrest warrants for on and off reservation awareness and enforcement
- Perform record checks on employees and volunteers who have contact with or control over Indian children
- Perform record checks of housing applicants and tenants
- Document arrest and conviction data
- Access investigative records of other law enforcement agencies
- Locate absent parents to enforce child support orders
- Search for and enter information about persons and property
- Conduct name-based criminal history checks to determine if supervised individuals have new charges
- Obtain complete criminal histories to make release recommendations in criminal court cases