CJIS Background Investigation Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under CJIS policy, which of the following best describes a 'Noncriminal Justice Agency' (NCJA) in the context of background investigations?
- A federal law enforcement bureau with CJI access
- A government or private entity authorized to access CJI for civil purposes such as employment screening (Correct answer)
- A vendor that manufactures fingerprint scanners
- An internal affairs division of a police department
Correct answer: A government or private entity authorized to access CJI for civil purposes such as employment screening
An NCJA is any government or private entity that accesses CJI for civil, not criminal justice, purposes — such as licensing, employment, or firearms background checks.
Question 2: An IT contractor finishes a short-term project and no longer needs CJI access. What action must the employing agency take regarding the contractor's credentials?
- Archive the credentials for potential future use
- Immediately disable or terminate the access (Correct answer)
- Transfer access rights to another contractor
- Retain access for 30 days in case of follow-up work
Correct answer: Immediately disable or terminate the access
CJIS policy requires that access rights are promptly revoked when no longer needed to prevent unauthorized or lingering access to CJI.
Question 3: Which of the following is a valid basis for automatically disqualifying an individual from receiving access to CJI under CJIS background investigation standards?
- A parking violation within the last five years
- A felony conviction for which the person was not pardoned (Correct answer)
- A misdemeanor that did not result in jail time
- Failure to disclose a prior employer on the application
Correct answer: A felony conviction for which the person was not pardoned
A felony conviction without a pardon is a standard disqualifying factor under CJIS personnel security requirements for CJI access.
Question 4: How often must agencies with CJI access conduct recurring background checks on their personnel under CJIS Security Policy?
- Every 6 months
- Every year
- Every 5 years (Correct answer)
- Only at initial hire; no recurring checks required
Correct answer: Every 5 years
CJIS Security Policy requires agencies to conduct recurring background checks at least every five years for personnel with CJI access.
Question 5: When a law enforcement agency uses a private company to process criminal background checks on its behalf, what document governs that relationship under CJIS?
- A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
- A CJIS Security Addendum incorporated into the contract (Correct answer)
- A vendor license from the state attorney general
- A memorandum of appreciation signed by both parties
Correct answer: A CJIS Security Addendum incorporated into the contract
The CJIS Security Addendum is the contractual document that private entities must sign, binding them to CJIS security requirements when accessing or processing CJI.
Question 6: An applicant for a firearms purchase undergoes a NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) check. Under which CJIS framework does this process fall?
- Criminal Justice Information access for law enforcement investigations
- Noncriminal justice access to CJI for a civil purpose (firearms licensing) (Correct answer)
- Classified intelligence access under NSA protocols
- Personnel security vetting for federal employment
Correct answer: Noncriminal justice access to CJI for a civil purpose (firearms licensing)
NICS checks are a civil use of CJI — accessing the national criminal repository for a noncriminal justice purpose (firearms eligibility determination).
Question 7: Which CJIS-defined role is responsible for approving access to CJI and ensuring background check requirements are met at the local agency level?
- FBI CJIS Systems Officer (CSO)
- Local Agency Security Officer (LASO) (Correct answer)
- State Identification Bureau Chief
- National Crime Prevention Officer
Correct answer: Local Agency Security Officer (LASO)
The Local Agency Security Officer (LASO) is responsible at the agency level for approving CJI access, tracking personnel, and ensuring background check compliance.
CJIS Background Investigation Standards 3
Under CJIS policy, which of the following best describes a 'Noncriminal Justice Agency' (NCJA) in the context of background investigations?