Georgia Bureau of Investigation annual report 2001

GBI 2001 Annual Report
Annual Report Introduction Investigative Division
Georgia Crime Information Center
Division of Forensic Sciences Administration GBI Home
D C IRECTOR'S OMMENTS
Milton E. Nix, Jr.
Governor Roy Barnes Members of the Georgia General Assembly Board of Public Safety Citizens of Georgia Continued progress defined Fiscal Year 2001 for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Technological advancements on several fronts enhanced the quality of services the GBI provides to the law enforcement community. Most notable during FY01 was the expansion of the state's DNA database or CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) to include DNA profiles from all convicted felons statewide. Georgia became the eighth state to amend its offender laws due to legislation approved by the Georgia General Assembly in the spring of 2000. Prior to the addition of felon profiles, only convicted sexual offenders were required to submit DNA to the database. In July of 2001, the Forensic Biology Section of the crime lab began inputting felon profiles into CODIS, and the impact has been phenomenal. CODIS is aiding law enforcement in solving cold cases and is making case-to-case associations in Georgia and in other states. Technology also is enhancing the way the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) disseminates criminal history information to law enforcement. Sixty-seven percent of police and sheriff's offices are now submitting fingerprints electronically, and within 10 minutes, GCIC has conducted a database query and returned its findings to the booking agency.
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GBI 2001 Annual Report
As always, the Investigative Division continued to provide quality support to the law enforcement community during FY01. Special agents expended 369,000 hours investigating general crime and drug-related offenses. Our drug enforcement offices and multi-jurisdictional task forces seized more than $17 million worth of contraband. It is with great pride that I submit to you the 2001 Annual Report for the GBI. The information provided in this report represents the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001. On behalf of the GBI and its employees, thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely, Milton E. Nix, Jr.
Director
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Annual Report Introduction | Administration | Investigative Division Georgia Crime Information Center | Division of Forensic Sciences | GBI Home
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GBI 2001 Annual Report

Work Units Drug Enforcement Specialized Units Investigative Excellence

WORK UNITS

Annual Report Introduction Investigative Division
Georgia Crime Information Center
Division of Forensic Sciences Administration
GBI Home

The Investigative Division is the largest division in the GBI and is primarily responsible for assisting
the nearly 800 local law enforcement agencies in the investigation of crimes committed in Georgia. The deputy director for investigations supervises the division with a command staff of three inspectors. The Investigative Division has 15 regional offices, three drug enforcement offices, various specialized work units and multi-jurisdictional task forces (MJTF). In FY01, the Investigative Division had 434 positions and a total budget of $36,814,066.
Regional Offices
Special agents assigned to the 15 regional offices regularly assist local law enforcement and district attorneys with the investigation of major crimes, such as homicide, child abuse, rape, armed robbery, theft and drug enforcement.
Consistent with recent years, the Investigative Division has placed its greatest concentration of resources on the investigation of violent crimes against persons.

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GBI 2001 Annual Report
Investigative duties: A crime scene specialist with the Gainesville Regional Office takes photos at a crime scene. The GBI has 15 regional offices across the state.
FY96-FY01: Investigative Hours Expended
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D E RUG NFORCEMENT Three GBI regional drug enforcement offices along with the Governor's Task Force on Drug
Suppression, the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), the State Drug Task Force and 12 other GBI supervised multi-jurisdictional task forces work to combat illegal drug activity throughout Georgia. Personnel in these offices often work in conjunction with other state, local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Regional Drug Offices The GBI's drug enforcement efforts are led by three regional drug enforcement offices (RDEOs) located in Gainesville, Savannah and Macon. The offices oversee drug investigations in 79 counties.
Drug Task Forces
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GBI 2001 Annual Report
The GBI participates in 15 multi-jurisdictional task force (MJTF) programs focused on drug enforcement. These include traditional drug task force programs, the State Drug Task Force, and the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force located in Atlanta.
MJTFs initiated 3,288 investigations and arrested 2,250 drug offenders during FY01.

FY01: Drug Investigation Activity
Contraband Seized............. $17,585,685 Drug Investigations............. 834
Hours Expended............. 109,532

Governor's Task Force

The Governor's Task Force on Drug Suppression (GTF) is a coordinated effort by personnel from the GBI, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia State Patrol, Georgia Department of Transportation, and the Georgia National Guard.

During FY01, the task force conducted 238 marijuana eradication missions in 138 counties of the state. The eradication missions resulted in the arrest of 100 suspects and the seizure of 56,143 marijuana plants with a street value of $112 million.

Fugitive Squads
The Metro Fugitive Squad, located in Atlanta, is supervised by the GBI and is staffed by the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Parole, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the United States Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the sheriffs' offices of Fayette, DeKalb and Cobb counties.
The Middle Georgia Fugitive Squad, headquartered in Macon, is supervised by the GBI and also consists of members from local, state and federal agencies. Assigned to the task force are law enforcement from the Georgia State Patrol, the Department of Corrections, the United States Marshals Service, the Macon Police Department, and the Bibb, Houston and Monroe County sheriffs' offices.
The fugitive units initiated 2,757 investigations and arrested 1,860 fugitives during FY01. The two fugitive programs are staffed by 28 sworn officers and agents and five administrative and support employees.

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GBI 2001 Annual Report

S U PECIALIZED NITS

The GBI specialized work units play vital roles in the daily
operations of the Investigative Division. The units support other GBI offices and local criminal justice agencies in specialized areas of expertise.
Polygraph Unit
The GBI Polygraph Unit provides criminal justice pre-employment polygraph examinations and criminal examinations for GBI work units and other Georgia law enforcement agencies. The Polygraph Unit conducted 4,183 polygraph examinations in FY01 59 percent preemployment exams and 41 percent specific exams in criminal investigations.

Polygraph examinations often result in confessions by suspects who are being tested for their participation in commissions of specific crimes. In FY01, GBI polygraphers received confessions in 40 percent of the criminal investigation exams they administered.

D.A.R.E. Unit
The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Unit has the responsibility for training all of the D.A.R.E.-certified law enforcement officers in Georgia as well as presenting the D.A.R.E. curriculum in several schools.
The GBI D.A.R.E. Unit trained 63 officers for certification in FY01. There are 329 active D.A.R.E. officers in Georgia and the curriculum is presented in 739 schools in 133 school systems. Almost 200,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grades have been impacted by the training in the past two years.
State Health Care Fraud Control Unit
The State Health Care Fraud Control Unit (SHCFCU) is staffed with prosecutors from the Department of Law; auditors from the Department of Audits; special financial investigators, special agents and criminal intelligence analysts from the GBI; and requisite support staff. The unit's function is to identify, arrest and prosecute providers of health care services who defraud the Medicaid program.
In addition, the unit is tasked with investigating allegations of patient abuse and neglect involving patients who are cared for in Medicaid funded health care facilities such as nursing homes. SHCFCU currently is
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being expanded to address the sharp increase in the number of patient abuse investigations experienced during FY01.
Crime Analysis Unit The Crime Analysis Unit (CAU) provides expert crime analysis (behavioral science) and crime scene examination services to law enforcement agencies on a statewide basis. The services include providing offender profiles and investigative strategies. In addition, Crime Scene Specialists provide highly technical evidence identification and collection services using state-of-the-art forensic equipment and methods.
Financial Investigations Unit The Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) provides financial investigative support and forensic computer and computer crime support to other GBI work units and criminal justice agencies throughout Georgia. Because FIU is primarily an investigative support unit, its statistics relating to arrests, stolen and recovered property, and seized contraband are often reported by GBI work units. Therefore the statistics are not reported by FIU even though FIU personnel contributed significantly to the resolve of the cases. The unit routinely assist in conducting major corruption cases, which often involve public officials. It also conducts evidence retrieval/processing services involving computers that are believed to contain evidence related to various crimes. FIU initiated more than 180 cases during FY01 and continued to lead the state by developing strategies and expertise to combat computer crimes. The GBI views computer-oriented crimes as a rapidly emerging and highly technical area of law enforcement that will require significant growth in resources and capabilities. FIU is uniquely positioned to lead this effort and to develop additional resources aimed at combating these crimes.
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GBI 2001 Annual Report
Bomb Disposal Unit
The Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) provides statewide assistance in performing render-safe procedures on explosive devices, chemicals and other volatile substances. The BDU opened 113 cases in FY01.
The GBI has four specially equipped bomb vans and three remote robots that are used to examine packages, perform render-safe procedures and probe structures. The program is currently being expanded to address the growing threat of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Bomb technicians are certified to handle bombing situations involving hazardous materials and will expand this capability to address the threat presented by chemical and biological devices.
GBI bomb technicians have already received basic WMD training at the FBI Hazardous Devices School. The expansion will involve the acquisition of personal protective equipment and render-safe equipment that when combined with existing training and knowledge, will form a capacity that has not previously existed in Georgia. This will serve as a segment of the National Domestic Preparedness Plan with relation to WMD threats.
Child Abuse Investigative Support Center
The Child Abuse Investigative Support Center was implemented during August of 2000 to address the needs of the GBI and other agencies involved in child abuse recognition and the investigation of child maltreatment.
The center currently preforms dual functions by providing consultative assistance and on-site training throughout the state. Forensic pathologists, who are members of the GBI Medical Examiner's Office, provide expertise regarding child pattern injury and wound recognition. Criminal investigative analysts affiliated with the GBI's Crime Analysis Unit provide investigative consultations based upon expertise in the analysis of crimes against children.
Members of the support center travel regularly throughout the state upon request to furnish instruction and training concerning topics relating to child abuse and neglect. Statistical information regarding child abuse and child deaths in Georgia also maintained at the center is used to support future child abuse curricula and programs.
Accreditation Unit
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GBI 2001 Annual Report
In 1997, at the direction of Director Milton E. Nix, Jr., the GBI began pursuing national accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). A year later, in November, the GBI was awarded accreditation by CALEA, becoming the first and only state law enforcement agency in Georgia to achieve national accreditation. The GBI was awarded accreditation as a result of an August 1998 on-site assessment where the GBI was found to be in compliance with all 295 CALEA standards that are applicable to the function of the GBI. The period of accreditation is three years. During this time, the GBI must submit annual reports that document continual compliance with standards. The GBI is currently in the self-assessment phase and will seek re-accreditation in August of 2001 and undergo a on-site assessment. At that time, the GBI must show that the agency continues to be in compliance with all applicable standards since the initial accreditation. CALEA validates the excellence and professionalism of a law enforcement agency.
I E NVESTIGATIVE XCELLENCE
Every year inspectors with the Investigative Division's command staff nominate investigations to be
considered for the prestigious GBI Director's and Deputy Director's Awards for Investigative Excellence. Director's Awards
The GBI regional investigative office in Douglas is this year's recipient of the prestigious GBI Director's Award for Investigative Excellence. The office was named the FY01 winner for its investigation into illegal drug activity involving certain members of the Coffee County Sheriff's Office. "Operation Coffee Pot," as it was named, led to the federal indictment of 10 defendants, including then Sheriff Carlton Evans. The investigation began in August of 1999 when local authorities in Irwin County discovered a large plot of marijuana growing on property near the Coffee-Irwin county lines. The discovery led to a full-scale investigation and the implication of Sheriff Evans and several of his deputies in an elaborate marijuana-growing and distribution operation in Coffee County. In October of 2000, a federal grand jury indicted the Sheriff, his brother Sage Evans, Chief Deputy Ben Hodge, Deputy Wayne Harper, and six other defendants on drug manufacturing and distribution charges. Fifteen arrests were made in connection with the investigation. All the defendants pleaded guilty but the sheriff who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. "Case Agent Scott Whitley and the entire Douglas Regional Office epitomizes what the Director's Award is all about," said GBI Director Milton E. Nix, Jr. "Their professionalism and investigative skills used in conducting this high-profile, sensitive investigation are to be commended."
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Director's Award: The Region 4 Investigative Office, Douglas, was this year's recipient of the Director's Award for Investigative Excellence. From l-r: Director Nix, Region 4 SAC Bill Butler, ASAC Scott Whitley, SA Jeff Roesler, Deputy Director Roy Harris, Assistant Director Vernon Keenan, and Inspector Jim Covington.

Annual Report Introduction | Administration | Investigative Division Georgia Crime Information Center | Division of Forensic Sciences | GBI Home

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GBI 2001 Annual Report

AFIS Operations Criminal History CJIS Operations Firearms Program Uniform Crime Reporting

Compliance Audits Advisory Policy Board Security Options Criminal Justice Integration Initiative

Annual Report Introduction Investigative Division
Georgia Crime Information Center
Division of Forensic Sciences Administration
GBI Home

The Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) is the chief provider of criminal justice information in
the state of Georgia. With a staff of 132 employees, GCIC assists criminal justice agencies statewide by providing round-the-clock access to needed information.

A O FIS PERATIONS
Electronic Submissions
During FY01, 19 additional local law enforcement agencies began transmitting electronic criminal and
applicant fingerprint images and data through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) livescan and card scan devices. A total of 54 agencies now submit arrest and applicant fingerprints electronically for their respective agencies and others for which they provide booking and applicant services.
Of all the criminal fingerprint cards received, 67 percent were transmitted electronically. In addition, five percent of applicant cards were sent by way of computer. The average processing time for electronic transactions is 10 minutes. This includes identification, update, or creation of a computerized criminal history record, transmission of responses to the booking agency, and where applicable, electronic submission to the FBI.
Remote Access
The following 18 local agencies access and search the state's fingerprint database via an AFIS Remote fingerprint workstation:

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q Athens-Clarke PD q Atlanta PD q Bibb County SO q Chatham County PD q Clayton County SO q Cobb County PD q Cobb County SO q Columbus PD q DeKalb County PD q Dougherty County SO

q Fulton County PD q Glynn County SO q Gwinnett County PD q Lowndes County SO q Richmond County SO q Savannah PD q Thomas County SO q Whitfield County SO

A total of 10,994 tenprint and latent print searches were initiated from these AFIS remote terminals located throughout the state. These inquiries resulted in 1,670 tenprint hits and 874 latent hits.

The processing of criminal and applicant fingerprint cards remained current throughout FY01, with an average processing time of 48 hours for criminal cards (manual fingerprint submissions) and 72 hours for applicant cards. Processing time for applicant cards is calculated from the time the card was received at GCIC until the time the Georgia response was mailed to the requesting agency. These turnaround times ensure a timely creation or up-date of Georgia computerized criminal history records or response to civil background checks.

Throughout FY01, submissions of criminal fingerprint cards (including livescan transmissions) decreased slightly while submissions of applicant fingerprint cards and final disposition reports increased. FY01 reflected a slight decrease over FY00 of 0.7 percent for criminal fingerprint cards and an increase of 10 percent for final disposition reports.

FY01 submissions of applicant cards increased by 38.5 percent over FY00.

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GBI 2001 Annual Report

C H RIMINAL ISTORY

Georgia's current Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system is 35 years old and utilizes obsolete
software and an outdated database schema. Redesign is essential to move the system to a new platform with graphical interfaces and a relational database. The upgrade will increase ease of access and use, provides greater flexibility in retrieval and presentation of data, and allows for more effective and efficient processing.
In redesigning the state's CCH system the goal is to provide a faster and more user friendly system to users in the field, including patrol officers, prosecuting attorneys and judges.
With the redesign of the state's core CCH system, new more sophisticated on-call linkages that allow for faster, flexible retrieval of related critical information will be implemented. These linkages will include the sharing of fingerprint and mugshot images based upon existing national standards. Fingerprints that meet national standards are already stored and are available through the state's Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and its linked Image Archive System. The system also has the capability to store mugshots using the national standard. Both systems are already linked to the current CCH system and will pose little problem in moving their linkages to the more advanced core CCH system of the future.
Finally, the use of a relational database scheme along with complete redesign of the system will further the current efforts for automated submission of data as a by-product of regular criminal justice operations. Already 67 percent of criminal fingerprint cards in the state are submitted electronically as a by-product of the booking process.
In addition, there is an on-going effort through the Council of Superior Court Clerks to provide data to the state's CCH system in an electronic mode. The redesign of the core CCH will make implementation of automated submission and update more effective by improving the ability to electronically link arrest, disposition and correctional data at the individual charge level.
Court Automation
GCIC continues to be heavily involved with court disposition automation. As a result of these efforts, 116 courts representing 65 counties in Georgia now have automated court disposition reporting capabilities. In addition, GCIC is working with the Superior Court Clerk's Authority to automate court disposition data from all of the 159 Superior Court Clerk's offices.

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GCIC also has worked with Fulton County and the City of Atlanta in a cooperative effort to develop an integrated automated disposition reporting system. This system "ties" together all case disposing agencies (i.e. courts, prosecutors and clerks) in the city of Atlanta and Fulton County and automates a process that is currently manual in nature.
The Automated Case Disposition System project consists of three phases. Phase I, which has been completed and is in operation, creates an internal network between the superior and municipal courts and an external network for the submission of final disposition data to GCIC. At present, electronic dispositions are being successfully submitted to GCIC from Fulton County. Phase II is being implemented and will automate the Offender Based Tracking System (OBTS) and expand transmission capabilities from other courts within the Fulton County jurisdiction to GCIC.
Automated dispositions reduce the workload on the manual disposition processing efforts and free up resources to help process the delinquent disposition workload.
All of the automation efforts mentioned above contribute to increasing the percentage of felony arrests with convictions. In addition, automation has created greater accountability in terms of disposition reporting on individual charges.
Image Archive
The GBI awarded the Image Archive System contract in July 2000. The system was fully implemented in June 2001. The final acceptance test for the Image Archive System was completed in July 2001. The Image Archive System provides a more rapid (electronic) dissemination of data to Georgia's criminal justice community. The Image Archive System has the capability to capture, store, retrieve, display, and print detailed fingerprint images, mugshot images, and disposition data. This system has replaced the microfilm process.
The Image Archive System meets the American National Standard Institute Standard and Technology (ANSI/NIST) criteria for the interchange of fingerprint, facial scars, marks and tattoos.
In addition, the Image Archive System is linked to the GBI's Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). Currently, there are more than 50,000 images stored within the system. The number of images on file represents only images processed since the system became operational in July 2001.
CHH Operations
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GBI 2001 Annual Report
At the close of FY01, GCIC maintained fingerprint and criminal history records on 2,288,681 individuals. An additional 101,097 individuals were added to the Georgia computerized criminal history file, which represents a 4.6 percent growth rate.
Additionally, 852,930 CCH records were updated with subsequent arrests or disposition information.
CCH Specialists completed 13,142 requests for special record reviews and corrections during the year. These requests came from law enforcement/criminal justice agencies as well as attorneys and private individuals requiring record update or modification to ensure complete and accurate records.
A total of 1,256,525 Georgia CCH records were disseminated via the CJIS network to in state and out-ofstate criminal justice agencies.
C O JIS PERATIONS
During FY01, 7,700 Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) network terminals processed more than
147 million messages in support of criminal justice agencies within Georgia, the nation and around the world. While maintaining normal network operations, GCIC, along with its CJIS customers, began implementing plans to upgrade all data connections to TCP/IP protocol. This is critical for utilizing enhanced capabilities of NCIC 2000, a major information technology initiative of the GBI and the FBI.
During the year, GCIC staff worked closely with terminal agency coordinators (TACs) and other personnel as agencies began to plan for system upgrades. GCIC regularly provided information to customers as needed through seminars around the state with data processing personnel, law enforcement personnel and members of the National Emergency Numbers Association (NENA).
The CJIS network had availability in excess of 99.8 percent during FY01.
NCIC 2000 Project
In September 2000, plans and a detailed implementation schedule were completed for the NCIC 2000 Project. A team representing all relevant GCIC work groups was established to ensure that an FBI mandated deadline of January 1, 2003, is met. All Georgia agencies must convert from current protocols to TCP/IP prior to the deadline. Project work groups have been busy in areas of infrastructure and connectivity, documentation and testing, data security, technical audit development and training.
Once NCIC 2000 is fully implemented, users will have access to many new system functions, such as persons on supervised release, a federal prisoner index, and on-line manuals. NCIC 2000 formats will have new fields, including those for caution and medical conditions, as well as court identifying numbers. Fields for hazardous materials information also will be added.
In addition, NCIC 2000 also has the ability to accept, store, and retrieve digital images, such as mugshots, fingerprints, signatures, identifying photographs (scars, tattoos, vehicles, boats, parts, etc.), and generic photographs for identification of property. To utilize the imaging capability, agencies must purchase an NCIC 2000 workstation for connection to the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) network.
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GBI 2001 Annual Report
Agreements with the Georgia Technology Authority to continue ordering and installing new data circuits and routers to support the IP protocol have been established. In the area of data security, a working agreement is being put in place with the Georgia Tech Research Institute to provide planning and guidance for security requirements. The GCIC CJIS Policy Manual has been revised along with over half of the GCIC CJIS Operations Manual. Testing of communications connectivity and data screens is also underway.
Sexually Violent Offender Registry The Georgia Sexually Violent Offender (SVO) Registry was enacted by the 1996 Georgia General Assembly and became operational during FY97. As a public service, the GBI Web page was launched on the Internet in FY98. The SVO registry portion of the Web site received more than 3,046,278 hits during FY01.
Protective Order Registry In May 1997, the FBI installed a National Protection Order file, and GCIC implemented the programs to access and update this federal file. During the 2001 session of the Georgia General Assembly, a bill passed the legislature and was signed into law by Governor Barnes. This law, O.C.G.A. 19-13-50, was effective July 1, 2001, and gives GCIC the authority to develop and operate a state Protective Order Registry. This registry will enhance protectee's safety by providing law enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys, and the courts with access to protective orders issued by Georgia courts and courts in other states and jurisdictions. Once operational, the Georgia Protective Order Registry will be a Web-based system that tracks protective orders. The registry will be populated with images and NCIC data scanned into the system by Georgia's superior court clerks. The documents and data will then be electronically transmitted to the Georgia Superior Court Clerks' Cooperative Authority Server and then transferred to GCIC. GCIC will create and maintain the protective order database that contains images of orders, indexes to images and NCIC update flags.
Victim's Notification Information System The Victim's Notification Information System (VNIS) will be a fully automated system developed to notify all registered victims of any changes in the offender's custodial status. Notification is initiated by an automated call to the phone number or e-mail address provided by the victim when one of the following custody changes occur to the offender: release from imprisonment, transfer to work release, release on extended furlough, mandatory release upon expiration of sentence, escape from confinement, or death.
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In addition to providing victim notification, the system also will function as a Jail Locator Index Record System (JLIRS). After the offender is booked into a local jail, entries of Georgia warrant files will check the JLIRS prior to entry to determine if the subject of the warrant is already in jail. This capability will prevent the entry of warrants for offenders who are already in jail. The Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) is currently reviewing the RFP for VNIS.
F P IREARMS ROGRAM
Instant Check
The Georgia Firearms Program provides instant background checks on persons wishing to purchase
firearms from federally licensed firearms dealers pursuant to Georgia law and provisions of the federal "Brady Act". Background checks ensure that persons prohibited by either state or federal laws are barred from the purchase of firearms. The program is operational seven days a week.
The Firearms Program processed 207,221 firearms instant background checks from federally licensed firearm dealers during FY01. This represents a 12.8 percent decrease in volume over the transactions processed in FY00. Instant background checks resulted in 197,682 or 95.4 percent of the checks being approved for firearm sales. Of these checks, the firearms program approved 132,769 or 64 percent instantly, requiring no further action.
Envoy Automated Licensing Systems of Nashville, Tenn. through its VeriFAX program, provides an online instant background check service to large volume firearms dealers in Georgia. This service allows firearms dealers to enter and receive the same information they would receive from a firearms program operator without going through the operator, saving both the firearms dealer and the firearms program time and expense. During FY01, VeriFAX processed 109,311 transactions or 53 percent of the total number of transactions.
Forcible Felon Notification Program
A 2000 amendment to O.C.G.A. 16-11-131 made it a felony for any person convicted of a forcible felony or on probation for a first offender felony to attempt to purchase a firearm. Subsequently, in January 2001, GCIC implemented procedures to notify local law enforcement authorities when the Georgia Firearms Program, through an instant background check, determines that a person convicted of a forcible felony has attempted to purchase a firearm.
Within four to eight hours of a final determination that a potential purchaser is disqualified from buying a gun because of a forcible felony conviction (or first offender probation), GCIC sends an "Administrative Message" via the CJIS network to the county sheriff and city police chief of the jurisdiction in which the attempted purchase occurred. Copies of this message are sent to the district attorney and probation or parole office (if appropriate for individuals currently on probation or parole as identified by the Department of Corrections' Offender Status file). This message contains information on the subject and location of the federal firearms dealer where the attempt occurred. Information is provided for possible criminal investigation and/or any further law enforcement action deemed appropriate.
Since January 2001, GCIC has disseminated 276 messages regarding convicted forcible felons who attempted to purchase a firearm. Fourteen individuals were on active probation and one was on active
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GBI 2001 Annual Report
parole. Law enforcement agencies have advised that 34 arrests have been made for attempt to purchase and/or possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U C R NIFORM RIME EPORTING The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program continued to provide crime and arrest statistics to local
law enforcement agencies, to the governor and General Assembly, to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, to county and municipal officials, to media representatives and to interested citizens through the publication of "Crime in Georgia 2000" and 321 special reports. The UCR program also collects special Family Violence Act (FVA) incident reports. During FY01, a total of 50,418 family violence incident reports were processed.
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GBI 2001 Annual Report

C A OMPLIANCE UDITS

The CJIS Audit Unit is responsible for performance audits of Georgia criminal justice member agencies
to the Georgia CJIS network. State and federal regulations mandate each CJIS network agency is audited biennially. Audits assess compliance with state and federal laws and regulations dealing with the access, dissemination and control of criminal justice information.
During FY01, a total of 614 audits were completed. The reporting period marks the end of the first year of the current audit cycle. Audit cycle target sites total 1,088 agencies. The unit is therefore on track for successful audit cycle completion. GCIC regards CJIS audits as powerful working tools for heads of audited agencies and opportunities for partnerships with GCIC to strengthen local agency operations, thereby serving the public at large.
In addition, this unit coordinated all activities pertinent to a biennial audit of GCIC and selected local agencies by the FBI. GCIC is subject to biennial audits by the FBI. The current FBI audit found no major discrepancies in GCIC operations.

CJIS Audits: A GCIC compliance auditor (center) reviews records with employees at a local law enforcement office to ensure that the use of the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) network is in compliance with state and federal regulations.

The Byrne Operations Unit operates two programs that serve to augment the quality and completeness of the Georgia Computerized Criminal History (CCH) database, managed by GCIC. An audit program assesses local agencies' completion and submission of arrestee fingerprint cards and final disposition reports to GCIC. The second unit component involves research of local agency criminal justice records to obtain previously unreported final dispositions to arrestee fingerprint cards reported to GCIC. The need for final dispositions for arrestee information has never been more important. The value of complete criminal records is key in areas such as the Georgia Firearms Program, public and private employment, as well as assessments by criminal justice practitioners making decisions on the prosecution of criminal cases. During this reporting period, the Byrne Unit processed 408 fingerprint/disposition reporting audits and located 13,827 final disposition reports after researching 35,531 local criminal record files.
Customer Support
The Customer Support Unit has responsibility for training and other customer support needs for more than 2,100 criminal justice agencies. The unit handles such training programs as terminal agency coordinator (TAC) schools; security and integrity of criminal justice information; training on criminal records creation and administration; fingerprinting; Uniform Crime Reporting; use of the CJIS network; and all other GCIC operational programs and services. This unit is also the core planning resource for the annual conference for CJIS network terminal agency coordinators. More than 800 criminal justice practitioners attended the 2000 conference held at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Also during FY01, GCIC personnel provided
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2,047 hours of training to 8,145 criminal justice practitioners.
The GCIC training coordinator is responsible for external training coordination and interfaces with the network of regional police academies and the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council.
In May 2001, the Customer Support Unit began a major project to install a security program at CJIS network sites known as "Operator ID/Password". This program records the identification of each person interacting with the CJIS network. It also ties to anniversary dates for terminal operation (training) recertification, required biennially by the FBI. This program is a core adjunct to the rollout of NCIC 2000. Since May, the Operator ID/Password program has been installed in 46 CJIS network sites.
A P B DVISORY OLICY OARD
During FY00, a new GCIC Advisory Policy Board was established to ensure that the decisions on the
NCIC 2000 project reflect the needs of GCIC's users. The board is comprised of well-informed, experienced users who make recommendations on all aspects of the project. Currently, the board is concentrating solely on the NCIC 2000 project. Later its responsibilities will expand to support all aspects of GCIC's user programs.
S O ECURITY PERATIONS
During FY'00, the GBI contracted with SecurityLink, Inc. to replace an existing, non-Y2K compliant access control system at GBI headquarters in Decatur.
The chosen system is among the most advanced available. The system provides a workstation for guard monitoring of all doors and alarms, a workstation for producing combination employee identification/access control badges, and an administrative workstation for monitoring system performance as well as producing audit and management reports.
C J I I RIMINAL USTICE NTEGRATION NITIATIVE
GCIC is actively involved in the development of a plan and process to integrate and improve the sharing
of criminal justice data among local, state and federal agencies. A strategic plan has been approved that provides a framework for the coordination of an integrated statewide criminal justice information effort where accurate, precise and comprehensive criminal justice information is collected, processed, shared and evaluated in a timely manner. Currently, work is being conducted to develop a standard data dictionary that will guide future state and local system development efforts. The definitions contained in the data dictionary will be based on national criminal justice standards for data and image exchange and will incorporate these and any other standards required for development of information systems.
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GBI 2001 Annual Report Annual Report Introduction | Administration | Investigative Division
Georgia Crime Information Center | Division of Forensic Sciences | GBI Home
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DOFS Operations Laboratory Services Quality Systems Facility Improvements Information Management

D O OFS PERATIONS

Annual Report Introduction Investigative Division
Georgia Crime Information Center
Division of Forensic Sciences Administration
GBI Home

The Division of Forensic Sciences (DOFS) provides scientific support to criminal justice agencies,
enabling them to detect, apprehend and prosecute criminals by utilizing accurate, useful and timely laboratory analysis and testimony. Except for limited services provided by local and federal laboratories, DOFS crime laboratories are the only forensic services available for the criminal justice community of Georgia.
Personnel Growth
The Georgia State Crime Laboratory (Division of Forensic Sciences) was formed by Legislative Act of 1952. The laboratory had five full-time staff members who processed 651 cases that year. In FY01, 272 scientists and technicians processed more than 109,900 cases.
Backlog Reduction
The backlog of unworked cases was reduced to less than 1,400 cases by July 2001. The laboratory receives and processes about 9,000 cases per month. The high watermark for unworked cases occurred in October 1999 when the laboratory had 35,857 backlogged cases. In the initial phases of training DOFS new scientists in FY00, training was concentrated for three to four months to give the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform 80 to 90 percent of the complex scientific testing necessary at the crime lab. During FY01, additional instruction was given to the scientists to complete their training in their respective fields of forensic science.
A more expeditious case turnaround time and expanded services by DOFS crime laboratories have

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reduced the delays in the court system and aided the criminal justice community in solving cases. In FY01, DOFS labs processed almost 106,000 cases.
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L S ABORATORY ERVICES Established in 1952 as the second statewide crime laboratory in the United States, the Division of
Forensic Sciences provides scientific support to the criminal justice system in Georgia. Using the most recent technologies and highly sophisticated equipment, lab scientists and technicians in specialized disciplines collect, analyze and interpret all aspects of physical evidence for law enforcement and prosecutors through the state. They also offer expert testimony on their findings.
Firearms Section
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The Firearms Section was able to reduce the backlog of firearms-related cases during FY01.
There is a national shortage of trained firearm examiners across the country. As there is no college that one can graduate with the necessary skills for firearms examinations, all crime laboratories must train new staff in a program that can take up to two years to complete. To solve part of this problem, the GBI, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and the Royal Bahamas Police Force sponsored the second joint firearms training program. Besides reducing the training time to nine months, the cost to train firearms examiners was shared by all three agencies, thus saving tax dollars. This was the first international training of its kind to be offered.
Implied Consent
The Implied Consent Section provides training in the operation of the Intoxilyzer 5000, an instrument used in the detection of blood alcohol levels of those operating motor vehicles and boats.
The section administers the quality control and assurance programs for Georgia's breath alcohol testing program. In FY01, 43 Intoxilyzer Basic Certification classes were held at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), including four basic classes for the Georgia State Patrol cadets; one for the Department of Natural Resources Basic Ranger class, and one class in conjunction with the federally-funded Police Corp class.
Renewal classes were conducted at seven regional training centers as well as at GPSTC. This decentralized training increases access and reduces costs for local agencies. The training also provides Georgia with approximately 8,000 certified Intoxilyzer operators.
GBI-DOFS participated in the General Assembly DUI Commission hearings in recommending the reduction of DUI limit to 0.08 grams. This reduction will make Georgia highways safer and help reduce the number of alcohol related traffic accidents.
Questioned Documents
In addition to conducting routine examinations and comparisons of handwriting involved in forgery cases of checks and other financial records, the Question Document Section examines documentary evidence involved in more serious violent crimes.
As in past years, school bomb threat cases continue to be problematic to authorities that rely on crime lab analysis for assisting in identifying the students responsible for writing the notes. Just as important is the elimination of students through handwriting comparison wrongly accused of these types of crimes.
One notable case during FY01 that involved expert testimony by the Questioned Document's Section is a case from Madison County. A former deputy sheriff was on trial for homicide, and she claimed that a note had been written by the victim explaining his sudden disappearance. However, the Crime Lab's
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handwriting experts determined that the note was penned by the defendant and not the victim. The evidence was introduced at trial and assisted in obtaining a conviction.
Forensic Photography
The Forensic Photography Unit of the Questioned Documents Section of the laboratory has moved into the digital age by adopting new techniques to record and transmit images vital to the prosecution of criminals. Routinely, evidence bearing latent prints can be digitally recorded and enhanced through sophisticated software programs in ways previously not possible. Surface backgrounds that obscure a latent fingerprint image vital to an investigation can usually be subtracted to clarify the area of interest. This is not always the case using conventional photographic techniques.
In a GBI investigation of an unidentified female body, a blouse found on the decedent was submitted to the Forensic Photography Unit. The photography unit took overall photographs as well as a close-up shot of the blouse's label. With photos in hand, agents canvassed the area where the deceased may have lived hoping that someone would recognize the blouse or label. Traditional techniques not only would have been time consuming but the logistics in getting the finished prints back to the regional office would have delayed the investigation.
By digitally recording and transmitting the images via the GBI LAN network, the field agents had these images in a matter of hours, thus greatly expediting the investigation.
Toxicology Section
The Toxicology Section has completed training of seven new scientists, bringing the total to 34 toxicologists statewide. This has resulted in improved case production. During calendar year 2000, the Headquarters Toxicology Section worked a record 19,930 services and had a completion rate of 93 percent within the target date of thirty days or less.
The Toxicology Section has faced a wide range of new analytical requests relating to the changing nature of drug use and abuse in the state and the nation. More emphasis has been placed on improving our analytical techniques for detecting drug-assisted sexual assaults or as the media has dubbed it "the date rape drug" phenomena.
This has required the development not only of new analytical techniques but fundamental research on the stability and time frame over which the drugs can be detected in a victim of sexual assault. The work has been presented at several conferences and has been extremely well-received by the forensic toxicology community.
Having developed these methods, the lab is now involved in teaching the medical and law enforcement communities about what types of samples are necessary and over what time frame samples must be
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collected so that these fast-acting metabolized drugs may be detected.
Oxycodone (OxyContin) abuse in Georgia, mirroring the larger national trend, has skyrocketed, resulting in numerous DUI and overdose related cases. Again, due to the new nature of the drug and the ways that it is being abused, the Toxicology Section has undertaken basic research on the required analytical procedures and the patterns and levels of abuse seen in these cases. This work has been published in a major toxicology journal and also will be presented at several upcoming meetings.
For the first time in many years, the Toxicology Section has the ability to analyze specimens for a wide variety of heavy metals. Arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead, to name a few, can be analyzed using new, state-of-the-art inductively coupled plasma - mass spectroscopy (ICP/MS) analyzers. This represents not only an increase in the number and types of heavy metals that can be analyzed, but also a 100-fold increase in sensitivity over previous methods.
Trace Evidence
The Trace Evidence Section provides the identifications, comparisons and analysis of hair, fibers, paint, plastic, glass, footwear, tire impressions, fractured materials and other miscellaneous materials. The forensic analysis, interpretation, and courtroom testimony play critical roles in the investigation and prosecution of serious/violent crimes such as homicide, sexual assault, armed robbery, kidnapping and burglary. The timely analysis of trace materials is critical to the successful apprehension and prosecution of criminals.
The Trace Evidence Section currently has a backlog of approximately 200 violent criminal cases. Due to an increase in demand for services, and in spite of an increase in section productivity by 30 percent, the current backlog is 33 percent higher than last year. Because of the labor-intensive analysis involved in Trace Evidence examinations, current turnaround time is approximately 10 months for most cases. Additional staff is needed to meet the current statewide demand for service in a timely manner.
Chemistry Section
The Chemistry Section has virtually eliminated the backlog of drug cases statewide. Almost all the cases are completed within 30 days and most within 21 days.
In addition to completing submissions on-time, additional items are also analyzed on most drug cases. This procedure is in response to requests from the prosecuting attorneys across the state.
The Chemistry Section still receives cocaine and marijuana as the majority of cases. However, some alarming trends have been noted. The most concerning trend is in the rising number of methamphetamine cases, especially those derived from the increasing number of clandestine laboratories being discovered in Georgia. In FY01, DOFS received requests to assist in the processing and cleanup of approximately 20 clandestine lab sites. DOFS responded to these requests by forming the Clandestine Laboratory Response Team (CLRT). The goal is to have at least 20 scientists and 20 special agents strategically located across the state and specially trained to deal with clandestine laboratories. The manufacturing of meth can be extremely hazardous because it involves mixing chemicals and then cooking them. Police officers around the country have been injured investigating and seizing meth labs. With the CLRT team in place, the injuries to law enforcement investigating and dismantling meth labs will be minimal.
Forensic Biology/DNA
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Since July 2000 the Forensic Biology Section has undergone many changes and faced many challenges. Some of these include hiring and training new staff, implementation of the expanded DNA database law (Senate Bill 318), a refocusing on customer needs, and dealing with a backlog of more than 400 rape cases.
Four new scientists were trained in specific areas of serology analysis. Once training was successfully completed, this group immediately targeted the backlog of rape kits. Between the efforts of existing staff and the newly trained group, by May 2001, the backlog of rape kits was reduced to zero.
Procedures for handling rape kits also were revamped and streamlined. New testing protocols were validated and implemented regarding seminal fluid. In doing so, these new procedures allow for a faster analysis time without compromising quality.
Effective July 1, 2001, the DNA database law was expanded from sex offenders to all felons. Resources for additional staff, robotics and high-throughput genetic analyzers also were made available with this legislation. Georgia was the eighth state to amend its offender law to all felons.
Samples are collected by the Department of Corrections and submitted to this unit for analysis. The purpose is to store the convicted offender DNA profiles in a database called CODIS (Combined DNA Index System). CODIS also contains DNA profiles from casework specimens collected from crime scenes or sexual assault cases. CODIS searches these profiles against each other both in Georgia and nationwide. If the computer program detects a common DNA donor, a match report is generated then verified by a trained analyst. Matches may occur as cases linked to each other (forensic hit) or unsolved cases linked to an offender (offender hit).
The impact of expanding the Georgia's database law has been phenomenal. As of August 2001, CODIS has provided leads on 54 previously unsolved cases. From 1998 to 2000, 13 offender hits were observed. Since January 2001 approximately 41 offender hits have occurred. National searching has produced matches to several states, including Texas, Illinois, Florida, North Carolina, Arkansas and Virginia.
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Q S UALITY YSTEMS

The GBI Crime Laboratory continues to be the only lab of its kind in the world to receive both
prestigious registration with the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) to the ISO 9002:1994 Standard and national accreditation by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors-Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD-LAB). During FY01, the lab made adjustments and plans to be accredited under the ISO 17025 Standard, which is a worldwide standard for all testing laboratories. Outside of the United States, most of the world's forensic laboratories have or are seeking this ISO 17025 Standard accreditation. The quality program represents a commitment to providing the best product based on customer needs and good business practices. DOFS operates the laboratory as a business, making Georgia's forensic laboratory one of the most efficient and most professional forensic laboratories anywhere in the world. Georgia's citizens should be proud of the worldwide respect and recognition that their forensic laboratory has obtained.

F I ACILITY MPROVEMENTS
With the workloads growing at the GBI Division of Forensic Sciences laboratories, renovations,
upgrades, and construction of new modern laboratory facilities are needed to keep pace with demand.
The new Western Regional Lab in Columbus was completed in October 2000. The staff moved scientific equipment and established operations for receiving cases by mid-November 2001. This 14,000-square-foot modern laboratory represents state-of-the-art technology.
New laboratories to replace existing obsolete buildings for the Eastern Regional Crime Laboratory in Augusta and the Central Regional Crime Laboratory in Macon are scheduled for completion in 2002. Toxicology and morgue additions to the Coastal Regional Crime Laboratory in Savannah and the Southwestern Regional Crime Laboratory in Moultrie also are scheduled for completion in late 2002. The Northeastern Regional Crime Laboratory in Cleveland is the newest lab scheduled to be completed in early 2003. The total forensic laboratory system will soon have eight locations strategically located throughout the state.
Scheduled for completion in mid-2002, the new addition to the existing Headquarters Crime Laboratory in Decatur will house chemistry and toxicology sections, a new evidence receiving area and a 15,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art medical examiner's facility.

I M NFORMATION ANAGEMENT
FY01 was an eventful and productive year in the implementation of the DOFS LIMS (Laboratory
Information Management System). Several major milestones were reached after substantial effort of both DOFS staff and the contractor.
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In October 2000, the final version of the software as specified by the original contract was installed. This version provided several operational enhancements that improve the overall usefulness of the system. Principal among these improvements was modification of the security system and evidence handling modules of the program. Changes to the security system allowed system administrators to exercise much greater control over access to various program features. The evidence system was modified in a way that permitted the program to more closely emulate the physical reality of how evidence is handled in the laboratory.
Another significant achievement was the implementation of the Web site for retrieval of DOFS reports. This secure Web site allows agency representatives to view and print copies of the reports that would previously have been mailed or faxed. All DOFS reports generated after July 2000 have been posted to the Web site. A massive effort was undertaken by DOFS staff to contact all major customers and train representatives from each agency in the use of the Web site. This single project has saved DOFS hundreds of hours and significant funding through the elimination of mailing reports. As of June 2001, more than 1,100 customers are connected to the Web site.
While the effort was underway to move the issuance of current reports to the Web, a simultaneous project was capturing the data contained on microfilm of reports and files from cases prior to 1992. In the spring of 2001, images of all microfilm records back to the early 1980s were inserted into LIMS. The images can be accessed through names of individuals on the cases or the DOFS case number. This not only provides a valuable resource to DOFS staff, but also enhances the effectiveness of staff doing searches for information in response to open records requests.
Finally, initial phases of the implementation of imaging all evidence and data submitted to or produced by DOFS has begun. To achieve this, approximately 30 digital video imaging stations have been purchased to document evidence and certain lab test results, such as firearms or trace evidence comparisons. Flatbed scanners will be used to scan in documentation produced by scientists during analysis and documents submitted by DOFS customers.
Custom software in final development allows insertion of instrumental data directly into the appropriate case on LIMS. All of this will improve the record keeping functions of the lab and eventually enhance other critical functions such as case review and preparation for court.

Annual Report Introduction | Administration | Investigative Division Georgia Crime Information Center | Division of Forensic Sciences | GBI Home

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GBI 2001 Annual Report

Finance Office Professional Standards Legal Services Personnel Office

Public Affairs Staff Services GBI Unveils Monument
F O INANCE FFICE

Annual Report Introduction Investigative Division
Georgia Crime Information Center
Division of Forensic Sciences Administration
GBI Home

The principal responsibility of the Finance Office is to support the three divisions of the GBI
through budget development and fiscal management of all funding received by this agency. The Finance Office is supervised by the agency's fiscal officer/treasurer, and the staff is organized into three units: Accounting, Budget and Procurement.
Accounting
The Accounting Unit is comprised of an accounting director and 11 accounting positions. The staff receives, records, and disburses funds using a modified accrual system of accounting. A total of 17,500 expense checks were generated stemming from the processing of more than 23,574 field purchase orders (FPO), direct reimbursements, payment requests, CJCC subgrant payments and travel vouchers. Staff received, recorded and deposited more than 64,375 checks for payments of services rendered by the agency.
The accounting staff is also responsible for the payroll operations for 868 state positions, plus a number of federal and temporary positions that generated 4,116 paychecks and 16,765 direct deposits in FY01.
Budgeting
The Budget Unit, comprised of a budget administrator and three analysts, manages and monitors all expenditures made by organizational units. The staff also developed a budget request for FY02 that resulted in the appropriation of $67,069,372 funds.
In addition to state funds, this section is responsible for administering all grant awards. During 2001, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) was moved from the Office of Planning and Budget to the GBI under House Bill 579. CJCC added $59,967,179 in federal and other funds to the budget. These funds were awarded to state, local units of government and non-profit organizations. In addition, CJCC administers the Victims Compensation Fund that resulted in another $3,580,358 for the crime victims program.
Procurement
The Procurement Unit, comprised of five positions, processes all field purchase orders, requisitions

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and bid requests for the GBI. During FY01, this section processed 3,732 purchase orders. FY'01: Total Funds Budgeted by Division
FY'01: Finance Activity
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L S EGAL ERVICES The primary responsibility of the Office of Legal Services is to
provide advice and counsel to the director and all divisions of the GBI. In addition to this, the Open Records Section (ORS) handles the many open records requests received by the GBI. The Office of Legal Service is comprised of two attorneys: the director and deputy director; an assistant deputy director (ADD); a legal assistant; a secretary; and two open records clerks. The number of open records requests received by the ORS continued to increase. There were 1,891 requests in FY01 compared to 1,782 the previous year. The Georgia Open Records Act mandates a response within three days of receipt of the request. Consequently, ORS personnel must quickly prepare a thorough and accurate answer to the request. The assistant deputy director has created a computer program that tracks the status of the requests and ensures compliance with the statute. The assistant deputy director is the agency records custodian and records management officer. As records custodian, he must represent the GBI in any judicial proceeding in which GBI records are sought by court order, subpoena, or request for production of documents. In FY01, the ORS handled 40 subpoenas, three court orders, and 81 requests for production of documents. The ADD also responded to more than 40 requests regarding the retention and/or additional testing of biological specimens. The Legal Services Office continued its work in training; provided counsel on legal issues to the agents in the field; acted as a liaison for the Attorney General's Office on civil complaints involving GBI employees; and advised managers and the Office of Professional Standards of legal issues
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regarding adverse actions.
This year, the Office of Legal Services took a proactive approach in assisting managers and the efforts proved successful. There was only one appeal of an adverse action against an employee; however, it was subsequently dropped at the employee's request prior to a hearing.
In FY01, the Legal Services Office also was active in providing training. The deputy director attended Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Instructor School and now students in classes she teaches can receive P.O.S.T. credit for attending. The deputy director developed and taught a class regarding harassment and discrimination in the workplace to all GBI employees.
Additionally, the Legal Services Office provided legal instruction for in-service, new agents' and supervisors' training sessions at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth.
Finally, the Legal Services Office continues to draft proposed legislation and assist the GBI command staff in evaluating legal issues that arise in proposed legislation.
P O ERSONNEL FFICE
The Office of Personnel is comprised of one part-time and
eight full-time employees. The office is responsible for providing support to the three divisions and the Administrative Section of the GBI in all human resource matters. The routine responsibilities include the following: recruiting and hiring of new employees; processing personnel transactions; handling employee relations matters; classifying positions; developing new and revising existing agency jobs; monitoring the compensation structure; establishing minimum job qualifications; administering Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) services; administering the agency's drug screening program; overseeing the performance management process; assisting employees with benefits; serving as the liaison for workers' compensation; coordinating the student internship and youth apprenticeship programs; and managing the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
The Office of Personnel provided management training in evaluating employee performance; made concerted efforts to ensure that equal employment opportunities were available to a diverse population by making its job vacancy notices available to a variety of audiences and organizations; provided recruitment information via private and government Web sites; and received job applications over the Internet.
In addition to their regular responsibilities, staff in the Office of Personnel provided assistance in preparation for the
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national re-accreditation process through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Applicable policies and procedures were reviewed for necessary changes, as one-third of the standards established by this program are personnel-related. FY01: Employee Breakdown
Investigative Division: 412 full-time employees 22 hourly employees 434 total. GCIC: 131 full-time employees 1 hourly employee 132 total. DOFS: 258 full-time employees 14 hourly employees 272 total. Administration: 54 full-time employees 3 hourly employees 57 total. CJCC: 27 full-time employee 1 hourly employee 28 total Total GBI: 923 employees
P S ROFESSIONAL TANDARDS The Office of Professional Standards (OPS) is responsible for investigating allegations of
misconduct made against GBI employees. The office is managed by an inspector from the Investigative Division. He reviews and investigates all complaints, determining whether they have legitimacy or lack merit. Each year the complaints are reviewed and studied, and then evaluated a second time to identify any patterns of misconduct. Based on those findings, the office then recommends appropriate actions and/or training. During FY01, OPS conducted:
q 19 internal affairs investigations involving complaints made against employees from individuals outside the agency;
q One internal investigation into allegations made against an employee by another employee; q Five preliminary and 12 administrative inquiries; q And took 45 personnel actions.
P A UBLIC FFAIRS
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Disseminating information to the media
and the public falls under the domain of the Public Affairs Office. The staff of two employees acts as a liaison between the agency and the media/public, coordinating the release of information on investigations, missing persons, fugitives, agency achievements, programs, and any other items of interest that may arise. During FY01, the Public Affairs Office compiled news releases. Most noteworthy was a release announcing the arrest of two men in connection with a double murder at a Pike County quail hunting farm in January of 2001.
Along with its daily duties, the office also writes articles for law enforcement publications, publishes the annual report and recruiting brochures, compiles a monthly newsletter for retirees, schedules speaking engagements, and produces informational and training videos. The Public Affairs director also represents the agency at the Georgia General Assembly, maintains the GBI Web site and responds to the public's requests for information via electronic mail.

Web site
Since going online in 1998, the GBI Web site has become one of the most frequented sites offered by a Georgia state agency. All three divisions of the GBI (Investigative, Georgia Crime Information Center and the Division of Forensic Sciences) are featured online, as well as crime statistics, information on unsolved cases, fugitives and missing persons.
The Sexually Violent Offender Registry is the most popular site offered by the GBI. Last year, 4,248,627 users visited the GBI Web site, with more than two million of those checking out the sex offender registry. Over the past year, more than 500 mugshots have been posted to the sex offender page.
The agency's Web site can be accessed on the Internet at www.ganet.org/gbi.

S S TAFF ERVICES
Staff Services provides a variety of Support functions for the GBI, including facility management,
fleet management, asset management, and telecommunications. Facilities Management
The Facility Management Section worked on the following projects during FY01:

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q The new Western Regional Crime Lab in Columbus, Muscogee County, was completed in November 2000. This facility replaced the existing 28-year-old laboratory building and provides much needed modern laboratory space and a morgue facility.
q Construction began in March of 2001 on the approximately 75,000-square-foot laboratory addition and freestanding morgue at the GBI Headquarters' Complex. This annex will house DOFS Administration and three operational units of the crime lab, including the Medical Examiner's Office. Construction should be completed in late summer or early fall 2002.
q Architectural plans were completed and construction began in July of 2001 on the new Eastern Regional Crime Lab in Augusta, Richmond County. This facility will replace the existing 24-year-old laboratory building and provide much needed modern laboratory space and a morgue facility. Construction should be completed in late summer 2002.
q Approximately eight acres of land were acquired from the Milledgeville/Baldwin County Industrial Park as a site for a new Region 6 Investigative Office. Architectural plans were completed and construction is due to begin in early fall 2001. This facility will replace the existing commercially leased space. Construction should be completed in early spring.
q Approximately eight acres of land were acquired from the Telford-Hulsey Industrial Park in White County as a site for a new Northeastern Regional
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Crime Lab and replacement Region 8 Investigative Office. Once completed, the crime laboratory will be able to provide forensic services at the local level, saving both the GBI and local law enforcement valuable time. The new investigative office will replace an older facility that no longer meets operational needs.
q The Georgia legislature appropriated $430,000 to build free-standing Crime Analysis Garages at six of the GBI's regional investigative offices. These garages will provide office space, a garage bay, and lab space for the regional crime scene specialist. Evidence will be brought to these specialized garages and processed in a controlled environment.
Fleet & Property
The Fleet and Asset Section manages the GBI's fleet of more that 500 vehicles and GBI assets
valued in excess of $29 million.
PeopleSoft accounting software continues to provide a challenge to the asset management team. Never before has there been such a close tie between asset management and procurement. The Procurement Section and the asset management team are working together to reconcile GBI assets and dollars spent.
Installation of Fleet Anywhere, fleet management software, was completed early in the fiscal year. The Fleet and Asset Section has trained more than 50 GBI support staff employees in the use of this important software tool. Fleet Anywhere provides GBI staff with real-time information regarding status of the fleet. Reports on current and projected use of vehicles have proven invaluable in the preparation of strategic budget planning.
Other services provided by this section included management of the surplus property program, accident reporting, commercial fuel card management, and management of undercover commercial accounts.
Other Support Services
Telecommunications Management
Telecommunications saw a tremendous change as the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA)
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replaced the Department of Administrative Services (DOAS). A tremendous amount of energy was expended, creating new relationships and obtaining the necessary support level to satisfy GBI telecommunications needs.
Records Management
This support function continued to grow throughout the fiscal year particularly where open records requests are concerned. As a result, this function will be transferred to the Open Records Section in the coming fiscal year where the agency's records management officer will manage it.
Contract Administration
Staff Services was responsible for the administration of the headquarters security personnel contract and building operations and maintenance contract. A great deal of time and energy was spent on both of these contracts throughout the year, ensuring that the vendors' performance was in compliance with contract requirements. The building operations and maintenance contract was amended to include our Northwest Regional Crime Lab. This has proven to be successful and cost effective.
Staff Services also is responsible for risk management and security and access issues.
GBI Unveils Monument to Agents who Gave Lives in Duty
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has erected a monument honoring those employees who died in the line of duty. The monument was unveiled on March 7, 2001, at GBI Headquarters in Decatur in a brief ceremony as family, friends, and former colleagues gathered to pay tribute to the nine special agents whose names are etched in the black granite. The memorial, designed by Bryant & Associates of Atlanta, stands six feet in height and was paid for with money donated by GBI employees and retirees.
"The GBI is an agency that was built on the strong shoulders of those employees who have gone before us," said GBI Director Milton E. Nix, Jr. "This memorial honors their accomplishments and sacrifices and challenges us, as crusaders of justice, to press on in their absence."
It was in the parking lot of a Swainsboro, Georgia, roadside inn that the first GBI agent gave his life in the line of duty. His death sparked one of the largest manhunts in Georgia's history.
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On March 3, 1948, less than a month into his employment with the GBI, Special Agent Garland Fields, 38, was having dinner with his wife and daughter when he noticed a man in his 20s enter the inn and attempt to sell the owner a rifle. Suspicious, Fields approached the young man, displayed his badge, and began asking questions. His questions were met with resistance and Fields followed the man outside to a parked sedan where three others, a man and two women, waited for his return. Fields ordered all four occupants out of the vehicle, but the driver made his own demands with a revolver. Agent Fields attempted to duck into the shadows and free his own gun from the holster, but the gunman fired first. Agent Fields was struck three times. As he fell to his knees, he managed to get five rounds off with his service revolver. The bullets did little to stop the sedan and the suspects' getaway.
The heroic acts of Agent Field were his last. He died minutes later. His killers, the Edwards brothers, who had staged a jailbreak in Tennessee, were captured 12 hours later.
More than 100 law enforcement personnel and irate farmers participated in the final gun battle. Before it was over, the suspects had committed two carjackings and had exchanged more than 100 rounds of gunfire with officers. The Edwards brothers and their two accomplices went to prison for their parts in the murder.
Almost 16 years later, on December 23, 1964, Special Agent Welton Harrell, a 12-year veteran of the agency, died in a car accident, and regrettably, would be the first of four agents to lose their lives to automobile accidents while on duty.
The second occurred on March 3, 1966. Special Agent Benjamin L. Sentell, 53, was working an investigation in Jefferson County, when he lost control of his vehicle on a road just outside of Louisville, Georgia. The road was slick from heavy rain, and the four-door sedan he was driving careened off the roadway into an embankment. He had been employed with the GBI for 26 years.
In November of 1973, after five years with the agency, Special Agent Larry Collins, returning home to Americus from a court proceeding near Athens, died in a single-car wreck.
And it was just four years ago that a car accident claimed the life of Special Agent Troy L. Pierce. At the age of 18, Agent Pierce was fresh out of high school when he answered the call to carry a badge and a gun. He began his career with the GBI as a narcotics agent in 1980 and later was promoted to special agent and assigned to the Region 10 Office.
On a rainy morning in May of 1997, Agent Pierce's career tragically came to an end. While on his way to the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth from his home in Conyers, he lost control of his vehicle and crashed on Highway 20. Seven months later, at the age of 35, Agent Pierce died as a result of injuries he sustained from the accident. He devoted more than half of his life to the GBI.
Special Agent Frank Ellerbee was assigned to the Coastal Area Narcotics Unit and was the first GBI agent to die in the war on drugs. On January 12, 1983, Agent Ellerbee, along with McIntosh County deputies and other GBI agents, was executing a search warrant at the Darien home of suspected drug dealer Walter Brennon, when Agent Ellerbee was stabbed in the back multiple times. As a seasoned, undercover agent, Ellerbee had purchased marijuana and cocaine from Brennon on several occasions. Agent Ellerbee died on the way to the hospital. His attacker received life in prison
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GBI 2001 Annual Report
for the slaying.
When Special Agent in Charge John T. "Sonny" King of the Milledgeville Regional Office approached the door of a Morgan County gun shop on September 13, 1985, he suspected there might be trouble. Accompanied by the Morgan County sheriff and his chief deputy, the three men were on a mission to delivery an arrest warrant for the shop's owner, Buck Watkins. Agent Bert Davis, concealing a shotgun, was stationed at a nearby car ready to react.
Watkins had a reputation for being cold-blooded and was under investigation by the GBI for committing two murders. He answered the door but his conversation with the lawmen was brief. He pulled a 45-caliber handgun from his back pocket and opened fire, a bullet striking SAC King in the chest and another ripping through the chief deputy's arm. In his final seconds, SAC King managed to fire a shot grazing his assailant's side.
As the sheriff directed his wounded chief deputy to shelter, Watkins then turned his gun on Agent Davis, who responded in kind and fired the fatal shots stopping Watkins' rampage. SAC King was a 21-year veteran of the GBI.
In 1988, the GBI suffered another loss. It was late in the evening on August 28, 1988, when Special Agent Robert M. "Bob" Kirk answered the knock on the front door of his Thomson home. A stranger in his 20s stood on the front porch and the reason for his visit was unusual. He wanted to know if he could borrow some matches.
Agent Kirk, a veteran state trooper and agent of two years, immediately became suspicious and declined the request. Minutes later, Agent Kirk was in his state-issued vehicle searching for the man he believed was up to no good. He found his suspect, later identified as Clifford Boutry, down the road arguing with another man and a woman. When Boutry saw Agent Kirk, his rage turned deadly. Pulling out a gun, he fired on Agent Kirk and fatally wounded him.
It was later learned that Boutry had been in a fight with his girlfriend and wanted the matches to burn down her home. He was charged with murder, escaped from jail and was later shot to death when he turned a gun on another GBI agent and police officer.
At 29 years of age, Special Agent William L. "Lee" DeLoach had just taken a promotion with the Douglas Regional Office to work general investigations. But before he could leave drug investigations behind, he needed to complete his final assignment with the Savannah Regional Drug Enforcement Office.
On July 14, 1993, Agent DeLoach boarded a U.S. Customs helicopter to take part in operation "Riversweep" a major drug investigation in southeast Georgia. It was on that mission, that Agent DeLoach lost his life. The helicopter he was on crashed in a wooded area in Wayne County. There were no survivors.
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Annual Report Introduction | Administration | Investigative Division Georgia Crime Information Center | Division of Forensic Sciences | GBI Home
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A H GENCY ISTORY

Annual Report Introduction Investigative Division
Georgia Crime Information Center Division of Forensic Sciences Administration
GBI Home

What would come to be known as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) was created in 1937 by the State General Assembly. Along with the Georgia State Patrol, lawmakers created the Division of Criminal Identification, Detection, Prevention and Investigation. The agency was created to assist local law enforcement agencies in fighting the growing crime problem. Since that time, thousands of perpetrators, from common criminals and local street-level drug dealers to serial killers and drug czars, have been brought to justice through the efforts of the GBI.

A milestone in Georgia law enforcement occurred in February of 1952, when the Fulton County Crime Laboratory became the State Crime Laboratory and part of the Department of Public Safety. It became the second statewide crime laboratory in the United States. The founder and director of the Fulton County Laboratory, Dr. Herman Jones, introduced forensic laboratory work to Georgia in the early 1940s. Dr. Jones' Fulton County position was transferred to the state where he continued as the laboratory director.

Another turning point for the GBI occurred in February of 1972 when Governor Jimmy Carter commissioned a task force to establish a master plan to implement a Criminal Justice Information System for Georgia. Criminal activity of all types was increasing dramatically across the state, and Governor Carter was convinced that more timely and accurate information would be extremely beneficial to state and local law enforcement agencies. On the recommendation of this task force, Governor Carter issued an Executive Order in June of 1972, creating the Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC). When GCIC began operation in 1973 as part of the GBI, it became the focal point in Georgia for the collection, storage, rapid retrieval and dissemination of law enforcement and criminal justice related information.

The third turning point for the GBI came on February 28, 1974, when the Georgia General Assembly passed Governor Carter's proposed Executive Reorganization Act and later amendments, making the GBI an independent agency.

The Reorganization Act established the organizational framework of the GBI that still exists today. That framework consists of three divisions: the Investigative Division, the Division of Forensic Sciences and the Georgia Crime Information Center.

The role of the GBI has expanded dramatically in the past 60 years. It has faced many challenges in meeting the demands of providing up-to-date investigative, forensic science and crime information services, as well as supporting Georgia's entire criminal justice system. The GBI takes pride in the fact that it has evolved over the past six decades into a respected law enforcement agency with

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highly-trained and dedicated professional employees. From all of its state-of-the-art technologies, scientific capabilities, sophisticated computers and more than a half century of experience, today's GBI prides itself on its most important asset -- the individual employees who have dedicated their lives to public safety and serving the citizens of the great state of Georgia.
In 1940 when Governor E.D. Rivers appointed the first director to manage the GBI, the bureau's first agent, Arthur E. Hutchins, was awarded the distinguished honor of being named Director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Today the GBI falls under the direction of Milton E. Nix, Jr., who is only the 14th person to serve in such an esteemed and well-respected capacity.

Annual Report Introduction | Administration | Investigative Division Georgia Crime Information Center | Division of Forensic Sciences | GBI Home

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