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CNMI seeks link to US criminal records
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Posted on Aug 27 1999
The Criminal Justice Planning Agency is eyeing federal funding to programs that will give the CNMI access to records of criminals from the U.S. mainland, including sex offenders, according to Harry Blanco, acting director of CJPA.
This unique program under the U.S. Department of Justice will upgrade the present communication system of the CNMI and strengthen the island’s criminal enforcement since it will allow police officers to check on the criminal history of convicted felons from the mainland who come to the Northern Marianas.
Similarly, DOJ will have access to records of convicted criminals here.
Based on the program, the local Criminal Justice Intelligence group would be able to link its system with the National Criminal Intelligence Center which collects the data for the federal government.
At the same time, Blanco said his office would like to gain access to the national sex offenders registry so that the local police can monitor the activities of any sex offender from the U.S. who travels to the CNMI.
Blanco said the grant will allow him to hire a staff and work directly with the Department of Public Safety.
CJPA was able to secure some $1.5 million in federal grants this year to carry out various programs including prevention of juvenile delinquency, drug abuse treatment and violence against women.
A Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program under the Division of Corrections is being constructed to allow convicted criminals avail of drug treatment while serving their sentence.
Some $500,000 has been set aside for used in the construction of the substance abuse treatment facility in the new detention center on Saipan.
Earlier, CJPA was able to acquire a grant which was used to train 45 men and women to become police officers. The program aims to improve the community relations of the police force in Saipan, Rota and Tinian.
