BCI Strategic Plan 2025-2028
Mission Statement
The mission of the Bureau of Criminal Identification is to provide public safety agencies and the public: technical services, expertise, training, criminal justice information, permits, and related resources.
Who We Are
When the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation was founded, its purpose was to centralize and facilitate criminal identification in Utah through fingerprinting and emerging technologies, enhancing law enforcement's investigative capabilities, and preventing misidentification. While the founder's vision of the Bureau providing "Investigation" to assist police agencies with Bureau investigators never materialized, BCI has still become an essential tool for police agencies.
After 97 years, the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification has grown from its modest beginnings in the Capitol basement to a twelve-section agency. From the Brady Section, which runs background checks on Utah gun purchases, to Expungements, which determines eligibility for removing criminal history in the hope of a better future. BCI has a legacy of modernization, justice, and public safety.
The Bureau of Criminal Identification will continue to utilize the latest technology to provide efficient and effective methods and procedures to shorten turnaround times and increase customer satisfaction. BCI has been an example for the nation when it comes to AMBER Alerts, Utah Missing Persons Clearinghouse procedures, Rap Back, and becoming a National Fingerprint File state, and will continue to look for ways to improve those operations. We will also continue to look for training and educational opportunities through the Certified Public Managers program and other entities to add to the knowledge and leadership skills within the Bureau.
Goal 1 – Firearm Dashboard
Objective
- Provide better and more timely information for the public regarding firearm sales.
- Provide better and more timely information regarding concealed firearm permits.
Strategy Tiles
- Identify which data elements from the current quarterly report provide value to customers.
- Identify new data elements that may provide value to customers.
- Work with DTS to design an interactive dashboard and publish it to BCI’s website.
Goal 1 Work Plan
| Strategy | Champion | Resources Needed (i.e., people, equipment, funding) | Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identify current data to include | BCI Employees | Statistical categories (initially identified from the current static report) | 3 months | Complete |
| Identify new feedback elements to include | BCI Employees | Feedback from stakeholders (public, media, gun dealers, administration, law enforcement, etc.) | As requested, after publication | Post publication |
| Work with DTS to design a dashboard | BCI Employees | DTS project prioritization, design meetings | 6 months (?) | In progress. Demo estimated to be available by 6/1/25. |
Goal 2 – Merge the Sex/Kidnap Offender Registry and the Child Abuse Offender Registry
Objective
- Create a single, reliable database for all Department of Public Safety (DPS) registries, making information easily accessible for internal and external users, which will improve data consistency and efficiency.
- Consolidate two public websites into one user-friendly platform to improve public access to information and make searches more efficient.
- Implement a thorough process to validate all child abuse offender records before they are added to the combined database, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with laws.
Strategy Tiles
- Merge Registries in OffenderWatch
- One continuously updated public website
- National Sex Offender Registry Validation
Goal 2 Workplan
| Strategy | Champion | Resources Needed (i.e., people, equipment, funding) | Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merge Registries in OW | BCI Employees | Signed Statement of Work, Funding, Clear and concise communication with OW about the Registry needs, Staff Time | 6 months | Pending |
| One updated public website | BCI Employees | Feedback from the chain of command, Clear and concise communication with OW, and Staff time | 6 months | Pending |
| NSOR Validation | Registry staff | Staff time | 6 months | Pending |
Goal 3 – Create Criminal History Dashboard
Objective
- Create better tracking and audits of information being added to the Criminal History (CH).
- Identify areas of needed improvement.
- The ability to identify agencies that need targeted training or that BCI needs to work with to improve reporting.
Strategy Tiles
- Work with SEARCH and DTS to design and implement.
- Identify the data elements that will provide value.
- Identify key triggers to alert BCI to potential problems.
Goal 3 Work Plan
| Strategy | Champion | Resources Needed (i.e. people, equipment, funding) | Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Create and Implement the Dashboard | BCI Employees | SEARCH, DTS, BCI staff | Complete before September 30, 2026 | Pending |
| Identify Key Data Elements and Triggers | BCI Employees | Feedback from all interested parties concerning what the key data elements and triggers are | The majority of this work needs to be completed by December 2025 | Pending |
| NCHIP Funding | BCI Employees | Obtain NCHIP funding to pay SEARCH and DTS. Will also need a statement of work from SEARCH to pay them | Funding spent before September 30, 2026 | Received grant approval 10/1/2024 |
Goal 4 – Remove Backlog of Automatically Expunged Orders
Objective
- Complete the backlog of 138,145 records waiting to be automatically expunged.
Strategy Tiles
- Continue to identify which processes need to be reevaluated and updated to keep processing orders as quickly as possible.
- Research and identify new database updates that may provide value to customers or help process orders in a timely manner.
Goal Workplan
| Strategy | Champion | Resources Needed (i.e., people, equipment, funding) | Timeline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complete the backlog of 138,145 records waiting to be automatically expunged | Auto Expungement Staff |
Possible DTS time to update programming, two additional staff to be fully staffed (interviews on 03/2 |