Georgia Bureau of Investigation annual report 2002

INVESTIGATIVE
Division
431 Positions $40,246,979 Budget

INVESTIGATIVE
Operations
T he Investigative Division is the largest division of 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.

REGIONAL
Offices

Special agents assigned to the 15 regional investigative 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.

Regional Office Locator

Region 1, Calhoun

Region 9, Thomasville

Region 2, Greenville

Region 10, Conyers

Region 3, Americus

Region 11, Athens

Region 4, Douglas

Region 12, Eastman

Region 5, Statesboro

Region 13, Perry

Region 6, Milledgeville

Region 14, Kingsland

Region 7, Thomson

Region 15, Sylvester

Region 8, Gainesville

Command Staff
Kent E. Wilson Deputy Director
Robert Hardin Inspector
Don Robertson Inspector
Lee Sweat Inspector

FY'02: Investigative Hours Expended

Crimes Against Persons

Property Crimes

Death Investigations...... 54,330 Child Abuse................... 27,742 Fugitive Arrests..............13,356 Terroristic Acts................ 9,033 Sex Crimes..................... 7,022 Robbery.......................... 4,149 Crime Analysis................ 1,222 Kidnapping......................... 713

Theft.............................. 40,270 Burglary........................... 6,037 Forgery............................ 5,554 Arson................................1,923 Vehicle Theft.....................1,440 Criminal Damage............... 225

FY'98-FY'02: Investigative Hours Expended

180,000

160,000 140,000 120,000

100,000

80,000

60,000

40,000

20,000 0

Drugs

Persons Property Other/Misc.

1998 136,831

F Y

1999

122,805

2000 114,778

109,532 2001

117,141 2002

164,606 143,433 120,567 132,688 130,101

61,752 64,134 56,113 52,136 55,449

51,064 45,935 54,676 74,269 104,917

DRUG
Enforcement
T hree GBI regional drug enforcement offices along with 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. The drug-related investigative activity generated during FY'02 in the three regional drug enforcement offices, 15 regional investigative offices, by the Governor's Task Force on Drug Suppression, and by the State Drug Task Force is depicted as follows: Seized $31,638,142 in contraband Initiated 1,051 drug investigations Expended 117,141 agent hours.
DRUG TASK FORCES
The GBI participates in 14 multi-jurisdictional task force (MJTF) programs focused on drug enforcement. These work units include traditional drug task force programs, the State Drug Task Force, and the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force located in Atlanta. Drug task forces are staffed by a total of 164 sworn officers/agents and 43 administrative/support staff employees. During FY'02, MJTFs: Initiated 4,040 investigations Arrested 2,618 offenders Made drug seizures valuing $28,125,860 Recovered $1,950,490 worth of contraband and stolen property Asset forfeitures are valued at $593,961.

Drug Enforcement
Gainesville RDEO Macon RDEO
Savannah RDEO
State Drug Task Force Governor's Task Force on Drug Suppression
High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area D.A.R.E. Unit
Appalachian MJTF Altamaha MJTF
Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad
East Central Georgia DTF
West Georgia MJTF Pataula MJTF
South Georgia DTF Haralson-Paulding DTF
Tri-Circuit MJTF Ocmulgee MJTF Oconee Dublin MJTF Piedmont-Northern
Metro Fugitive Squad Middle Georgia Fugitive
Squad Juvenile Crimes Unit

G O V E R N O R' S T A S K F O R C E

T he 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 FY'02, the task force:
Conducted 145 marijuana eradication missions in 62 counties of the state
Arrested 200 suspects
Seized 56,693 marijuana plants, with a street value of $136,063,000.

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 Paroles, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the United States Marshal's Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the sheriffs' offices of Clayton,

Fayette, DeKalb, Fulton 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 Marshal's Service,

the Macon Police Department, and the Bibb, Houston and Monroe county sheriffs' offices.
During FY'02, fugitive units:
Initiated 2,436 investigations
Arrested 1,408 fugitives.
The two fugitive programs are staffed by 29 sworn officers and agents and five administrative and support employees.

D. A. R. E. U N I T

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Unit is responsible 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 73 officers for certification in FY'02. There are a total of 287 D.A.R.E. officers in Georgia.
The curriculum was presented in 499 schools in 128

school systems to 115,071 students (grade K-12) in the past year.

A special agent with the D.A.R.E. Unit teaches elementary students in Forsyth about the dangers of alcohol and drug use.

SPECIALIZED
Units

T he 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 preemployment polygraph examinations and criminal examina-

FY'02: Breakdown of Polygraph Exams

tions for GBI work units and

other Georgia law enforce-

ment agencies. The

Polygraph Unit con-

ducted 3,900 poly-

graph examinations in FY'02 Preemployment 59 percent of

Criminal Investigations

those tests were preemployment

59%

41 %

exams and 41 per-

cent exams for

criminal investiga-

tions.

FY'02: Confession Rate/Deception

Known Deceptive
60%

Polygraph examinations

often result in confes-

sions by suspects who

are being tested for

their participation

Confessions

in commissions of specific crimes.

40 %

In FY'02, GBI polygraphers

received confes-

sions in 40 per-

cent of the exami-

nations where

there was indication

that the subject was

deceptive.

Specialized Work Units
Crime Analysis Unit (CAU)
Crime Scene Specialists (CSS)
Behavorial Sciences Section (Profiling)
Financial Investigations Unit (FIU)
State Health Care Fraud Control Unit (SHCFCU)
Special Operations Unit (SOU)
Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU)
Technical Services Team
Intelligence Unit Training Unit Polygraph Unit
Accreditation Investigative Staff
Services Communication Center

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 inves-
tigating allegations of abuse and neglect involving patients who are cared for in Medicaid-funded health care facilities such as nursing homes. SHCFCU currently is being expanded to address the sharp increase in the number of patient abuse investigations experienced during FY'01.

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 other GBI work units. Therefore, the statistics are not reported by FIU even though FIU personnel contributed significantly to the resolve of 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 160 cases during FY'02 and continues to lead the state by developing strategies and expertise to combat computer crimes.

CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT

The Crime Analysis Unit (CAU) provides

FY'02: CAU

expert crime analysis

Hours Expended

(behavioral science) and

crime scene exami-

nation services to law

Crime

enforcement

Analysis

agencies on a

8 %

statewide

basis.

The serv-

ices

Crime Scene Processing

include providing

92%

offender pro-

files and inves-

tigative strate-

gies.

In addition, crime scene

specialists provide highly technical evidence iden-

tification and collection services using state-of-

the-art forensic equipment and methods.

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 capabili-

ties. FIU is uniquely positioned to lead this effort and to develop additional resources aimed at combating these crimes.

BOMB DISPOSAL TEAM

T he Bomb

Disposal Unit (BDU) provides

FY'02: Bomb Disposal-Related Investigations

state-wide assis- 50 tance in per-

45 41 28 27

forming render-

safe procedures

on explosive

40

devices, chemi-

cals and other

volatile sub-

stances. The

30

BDU opened 176

cases in FY'02.

The GBI has

four specially

20

equipped bomb

vans and four

remote robots that are used to 10

examine pack-

4

Bomb 1
Threats

Hoax 2
Devices

Bombing 3
Events

ages, perform

render-safe pro-

0

cedures and

Device

Improvised Explosive

Bomb Squad Training

Explosives Recovery/
Disposal

Suspicious Package/ Explosive

Event Standby

probe struc-

tures.

The unit is in

the process of

enhancing its

capabilities with

an additional four specialized bomb disposal vehicles, increasing the number of

response vehicles to eight.

The program also is being

expanded to address the

growing threat of weapons of

mass destruction (WMD).

Bomb technicians are certi-

A GBI Bomb Tech operates a bomb robot in search of an explosive device. The robot allows the tech to examine suspicious packages without endangering his life.

fied 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 all ready 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. GBI bomb technicians have all received or are in the process of receiving HAZMAT Technician certification.

CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATIVE SUPPORT CENTER

The Child Abuse Investigative Support Center was established during August of 2000 to

FY'02: Child Abuse Investigative Support
Center

wound recognition. Criminal investigative analysts affiliated with the GBI's Crime Analysis Unit provide investigative con-

address the needs of the

sultations based upon expertise

GBI and other agencies

in the analysis of crimes

Cons1u5lta%tions

involved in child abuse

against children.

recognition and the

Members of the center

investigation of child

travel regularly through-

maltreatment.

out the state upon

The center currently

request to furnish

preforms dual func-

instruction and train-

tions by providing

ing concerning topics

consultative assistance and on-site

Forensic Case Reviews

relating to child abuse and neglect. Statistical

training throughout the

85%

information regarding

state. Forensic patholo-

child abuse and child

gists, who are members of

deaths in Georgia main-

the GBI Medical Examiner's

tained by the center is used

Office, provide expertise

to support future child abuse

regarding child pattern injury and

curricula and programs.

INTELLIGENCE UNIT

T he Intelligence Unit serves as an analytical criminal information repository and provides intelligence gathering and dissemination services to agencies throughout Georgia. The unit processed 13,445 requests for intelligence

information, which included 546 background checks at the request of the Governor's Office and 913 standard background checks during FY02. The GBI's forensic artist is assigned to this unit and during FY'02 worked with

victims and investigators in gathering information to depict 164 composite drawings of criminal suspects and produced seven threedimensional reconstructions depicting the likeness of unidentified persons based on skeletal remains.

ACCREDITATION UNIT

In November of 1998, the GBI was awarded its initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), becoming the first and only state law enforcement agency in Georgia to achieve national accreditation.

In August of 2001, the GBI went through its first reaccreditation on-site and was found to be in compliance with all 304 CALEA standards that are applicable by function to the GBI. As a result of this on-site visit, the GBI was re-accredited in November of 2001.
The GBI will seek re-

accreditation in 2004. In the interim, the GBI will continue to demonstrate professionalism and excellence in law enforcement by adhering to policies and procedures that have been validated by the accreditation process.

INVESTIGATIVE
Excellence

E very year inspectors with the Investigative Division's command staff nominate investigations to be considered for the prestigious GBI Director's Award for Investigative Excellence.

The GBI Regional Investigative Office in Calhoun is this year's recipient of the prestigious GBI Director's Award for Investigative Excellence. The office was named the FY'02 winner for its investigation into allegations of suspicious activity regarding the discovery of human remains on the property of the Tri-State Crematory located in the Noble Community in Walker County.
Over a period of several weeks, 339 human remains were found in various locations, including surface recoveries, mass burials in pits and vaults, and inside buildings. A temporary morgue was set up on-site to assist in collecting and identifying information from the bodies.
Due to the magnitude of the situation, Governor Roy Barnes declared a State of Emergency and the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) became responsible for providing logistical support for the recovery operation and provided machinery, housing, clothing, food, and numerous other expenses as well as personnel.
As the recovery of bodies continued to

take place, case agent Greg Ramey and the entire Calhoun Regional Investigative Office began the coordination of a criminal investigation and identification of the bodies.
The GBI utilized more than 60 personnel from the Investigative Division along with the full resources of the Division of Forensic Sciences and the Medical Examiner's Office. The GBI also coordinated the efforts of numerous personnel from Walker County and other state and federal agencies.
This case continues to require a daily commitment from the regional office in Calhoun and the GBI State Medical Examiner's Office. Further attempts to identify bodies and answer constant questions from family members and attorneys involved in numerous lawsuits are ongoing.

GEORGIA CRIME
Information Center
134 Positions $$12,664,202 Budget

GCIC
Operations
T he Georgia Crime Information Center (GCIC) is the chief provider of criminal justice information in the state of Georgia. With a staff of 134 employees, GCIC assists criminal justice agencies statewide by providing round-the-clock access to needed information.

Command Staff

Criminal Justice
Information System

T he Criminal Justice Information System(CJIS) is a computerized network that provides law enforcement with access to important criminal justice information. Various databases make up the system, and the network is accessible 24 hours a day. GCIC services available through CJIS include:
The Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)
Computerized Criminal History (CCH) record

Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) records.
CJIS also contains information on:
Wanted and missing persons
The Sexually Violent Offender Registry
The Protection Order Registry
Stolen property (vehicles, guns, boats, and securities, etc.
Access to other local, state and national files.

FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS: Electronic submissions refer to technology using "livescan" or a "card scan" device to electronically capture fingerprints at local booking stations and then transfer them to the GCIC's Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). This process saves time and effort during the booking process and significantly improves the quality of post-arrest fingerprints. In addition, fingerprint checks for non-criminal justice purposes (e.g. employment, licensing, adoptions, etc.) may also be submitted electronically via such devices. During FY'02, 21 additional local law enforcement and appli-

Paul Heppner Deputy Director
Computer Services
Gib Heuett Assistant Deputy
Director
Information Services
Terry Gibbons Assistant Deputy
Director

cant agencies began transmitting electronic fingerprint images and data to the state's AFIS via live scan and card scan devices. A total of 75 agencies currently submit arrest and applicant fingerprints electronically for their respective agencies and others for which they provide booking and applicant services. Electronic transmissions represent 73 percent of criminal and 11 percent of applicant fingerprint cards received for processing. The average processing time for electronic transmission is ten minutes. This includes identification, transmission of responses to the booking agency, and where applicable, update and creation of a Georgia computerized criminal history record and electronic submission to the FBI.

REMOTE ACCESS: Remote terminals connected to the host AFIS are used to extend AFIS technology to the local agency for identification of arrested offenders and to allow for local searching of latent fingerprints lifted from crime scenes. Twenty local agencies access and search the state's fingerprint database via an AFIS remote fingerprint workstation. These agencies also may extend this service to surrounding jurisdictions.
A total of 12,116 tenprint and latent print searches were initiated from these AFIS remote terminals during FY'02. These inquiries resulted in 1,315 tenprint (offender identification) hits and 914 hits on latent prints left at crime scenes.

Research & Development
J. William Holland Assistant Deputy Director
Compliance Support

FY'02: Local Agencies with Remote Access

Athens-Clarke Police Department
Atlanta Police Department
Bibb County Sheriff's Office
Chatham County Police Department
Clayton County Sheriff's Office
Cobb County Police Department
Cobb County Sheriff's Office
Columbus Police Department
DeKalb County Police Department
Dougherty County Sheriff's Office

Fulton County Police Department
Glynn County Sheriff's Office
Gwinnett County Police Department
Lowndes County Sheriff's Office
Marietta Police Department
Macon Police Department
Richmond County Sheriff's Office
Savannah Police Department
Thomas County Sheriff's Office
Whitfield County Sheriff's Office

George Emfinger Assistant Deputy
Director
Security Operations
Charles A. Severs Assistant Deputy
Director

FY'02 OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY: The chart (to right) represents significant operational activity associated with criminal, applicant and juvenile fingerprint identification services. AFIS matches represent the total number of hits made against stored fingerprints of previous offenders. Tenprint to Latent searches are those automated searches made against the Unsolved Latent Print file from criminal arrest and applicant prints processed daily. These are in addition to the direct latent search queries performed by GBI's Division of Forensic Science or from AFIS remote sites.
The processing of nonelectronic criminal and

Activity

Production

AFIS Searches ................................................ 572,486

AFIS Matches .................................................. 343,719

Tenprint to Latent Inquiries .............................. 529,984

Tenprint to Latent Hits .............................................. 95

applicant fingerprint cards remained current throughout FY'02 with an average processing time of 48 hours for criminal cards and 72 hours for applicant cards. These turnaround times ensure a timely creation or update of Georgia computerized criminal history records or response to civil

background checks. During FY'02, total sub-
missions of criminal fingerprint cards (including live scan transmissions) decreased slightly (1.2 percent), while submissions of applicant fingerprint cards increased by nine percent over FY'01 submission totals.

FY'02: Production & Receipts

500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000

Production

Receipts

Approximately 28 percent of the total fingerprint identification workload is associated with non-criminal justice background checks.

100,000 0

FCianrgdesrprint CAaprpdliscant

CRIMINAL HISTORY REPOSITORY

At the close of FY'02, GCIC maintained fingerprint and criminal history records on 2,395,293 individuals. An additional 106,612 individuals were added to the Georgia Computerized Criminal History (CCH) file during the year, which represents a 4.7 percent growth rate. An additional 821,269

CCH records were updated with subsequent arrests or disposition information.
Seventy percent of all arrests dating from the early 1970s to the present have final dispositions reported. More than 80 percent of all arrests reported in the last two to seven years have a final disposition reported. A total of 376,374 final disposition

reports were posted to CCH records during FY'02, with 20 percent reported electronically from courts and prosecutors.
A total of 16,868 requests for special record reviews and corrections were completed during the fiscal year. These requests came from law enforcement/criminal justice agencies

as well as attorneys and private individuals requiring record updates or modifications to ensure complete and accurate records.
A total of 1,221,895 Georgia CCH records were disseminated via the CJIS network to instate and out-ofstate criminal justice agencies.

CJIS NETWORK

The CJIS Network is a telecommunications network that provides local and state criminal justice agencies access to a variety of person, property and information files. During FY'02, 10,600 CJIS network terminals processed more than 154 million messages in support of criminal justice agencies within Georgia, the nation and around the world. The CJIS network had availability in excess of 99 percent during FY'02.
CONNECTIVITY CONVERSION: While maintaining normal network operations, GCIC, along with its CJIS customers, continued implementation of the upgrade to TCP/IP protocol for all connections. This is critical for utilizing enhanced capabilities of NCIC 2000. GCIC staff continued to work closely with Terminal Agency Coordinators (TACs) and other personnel as agencies continued to plan for system upgrades. A critical part of the CJIS network conversion was the close working relationship that GCIC had with the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA). CJIS customers connect through the state frame

relay backbone managed by GTA. By the end of FY'02, 12 percent of agencies had converted to TCP/IP. The final date for conversion is July 1, 2004. The TCP/IP protocol provides GCIC and GTA with new possibilities for connectivity that may lower the cost, improve performance and provide for greater network security. These options will be explored in FY'03.
The extension of the conversion deadline date to July 1, 2004, will allow the GCIC/GTA design team more time to complete the evaluation, testing, and possibly implementation of alternative solutions, such as a VPN solution.
GTA will continue to order and install the data circuits and routers to support the TCP/IP protocol for the CJIS conversion. Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) has completed their contract for providing planning and guidance for network security requirements. GTA will provide the ongoing guidance and support for network security requirements for CJIS connectivity based on the FBI, GCIC, and GTA security requirements.

NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER (NCIC) 2000 PROJECT: A project team representing all relevant GCIC work groups was established to ensure that the FBI mandated deadline was met. Project work groups addressed the following areas: Infrastructure and connectivity; documentation and testing; data security; technical audit development and training.
Documentation and testing was completed and local warrants were uploaded to NCIC as part of the NCIC 2000 process. In addition, updated NCIC 2000 manuals were printed and mailed to local agencies and GCIC successfully implemented the NCIC 2000 formats on July 11, 2002.

SEXUALLY VIOLENT OFFENDER REGISTRY

The Georgia Sexually Violent Offender (SVO) Registry was enacted by the 1996 Georgia General Assembly and became operational during FY'97. Since that time, the GBI has reg-

istered 6,157 offenders, with 1,126 added during FY'02. More than 2,300 images of registered sex offenders have been placed on the Web site.
As a public service, the

GBI Web page was launched on the Internet in FY98. During FY'02, the SVO registry portion of the Web page received more than 1,432,800 hits.

PROTECTIVE ORDER REGISTRY

In May 1997, the FBI established 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 Roy E. Barnes. The law gave GCIC authority for the development and operation of a state protective order registry.
The Georgia Protective Order Registry (GPOR) is a Web-based system that tracks protective orders. The registry is populated with images of orders and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) data scanned and keyed in by Georgia Superior Court Clerk's Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) and then transferred to the GCIC server. From that data, GCIC creates and maintains the protective order database that contains images of orders, indexes to images and also includes an NCIC flag to display NCIC updates. GCIC subsequently

transfers data to NCIC for inclusion into the national registry.
Georgia's registry serves as a central repository providing law enforcement officers, prosecuting attorneys and the courts access to protective orders issued by Georgia courts as well as courts of other states and jurisdictions 24 hours a day/seven days a week. Law enforcement agencies, prosecutors and the courts are authorized to access information in the registry. To access the web page, local agencies must have Internet capabilities and log-on using an ID/Password.
The user will have the capability to search for an existing order and check the status of orders (e.g. active, inactive, continued or dismissed). The user can also enter vital information through the Web page such as the service date or other information the sheriff may acquire while serving the protective order. The user also can print a copy of the order.

FIREARMS PROGRAM

INSTANT GUNCHECK:

The Firearms Program provides instant back-

FY'02: Firearms Program Activity

ground checks pursuant to Georgia law and provisions of the federal

Total Telephone Calls Answered .......................... 96,650 Total Transactions .............................................. 205,607

"Brady Act" on persons

Total Transactions Approved ..............................197,159

wishing to purchase firearms from federally licensed firearms deal-

Total Transactions Denied ..................................... 8,420 Reasons for Denial:

ers. Background checks ensure that persons prohibited by either state or federal laws are barred

Felony Conviction .................................................. 1,652 Felony Arrest (No Disposition) ............................... 5,402 Outstanding Warrant (Fugitive) ................................. 366

from the purchase of firearms. The program is operational six days a

Mental Health Reasons .............................................. 13 Family Violoence ...................................................... 824

week from 8:00 a.m.

NICS Denials ............................................................ 163

until 10:00 p.m. and

from 8:00 a.m. until

6:00 p.m. on Sundays.

The program is closed on

Christmas Day.

The program processed 205,607 instant volume over transactions processed in the

background checks from federally licensed previous fiscal year. Instant background

firearm dealers during FY'02. This repre- checks resulted in 197,159 or 96 percent

sents a less than 1 percent decrease in

approved firearm sales. Of the total checks

processed, 139,025 or 68 percent were

approved instantly, requiring no further

action.

The Firearms Program processed 205,607 instant background checks

Envoy Automated Licensing Systems of Nashville, Tennessee, through their VeriFAX program, provides a point-of-sale

from federally-licensed firearms dealers during the fiscal year. Of those, 197,159 or 68 percent result-

instant background check service to large volume firearms dealers in Georgia. This service allows dealers to enter and receive the same information they would receive

ed in approved firearms sales. Approximately, 139,025 were

from a firearms program operator, without going through the operator, saving both the dealer and the firearms program time and

approved instantly, requiring no

expense. During FY'02, VeriFAX processed

further action.

108,957 transactions or 53 percent of the total transactions.

FORCIBLE FELON NOTIFICATION PROGRAM: A 2000 amendment to O.C.G.A. 1611-131 made it a felony for any person convicted of a forcible felony or on first offender probation for a forcible felony, to attempt to purchase a firearm. Subsequently, in January 2001, GCIC implemented procedures to notify local law enforcement authorities when 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 county and city 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 dealer where the attempt occurred. Information is provided for possible criminal investigation and/or any further law enforcement action deemed appropriate.
During FY'02:
GCIC disseminated 452 messages regarding convicted forcible felons who attempted to purchase a firearm.
Thirty-six (36) individuals were on active probation or parole.
Law enforcement agencies have advised that 93 arrests have been made for attempt to purchase and/or possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING
The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program continued to provide crime and arrest statistics to local law enforcement agencies, the Governor and General Assembly, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, county and municipal officials, media representatives and to interested citizens through the publication of "Crime in Georgia-2001" and 133 special reports.
The UCR program also collects special family violence act (FVA) incident reports. During FY'02, a total of 47,802 family violence incident reports were processed.

COMPLIANCE
& Security

CJIS COMPLIANCE AUDITS

G CIC, as Control Terminal Agency for the State, is responsible for biennial audits of Georgia criminal justice agencies operating computer terminals on the CJIS net-

work. During FY'02 GCIC's CJIS Audit staff conducted 452 audits of local agencies. Audit production successfully closed the current biennial audit cycle. In addition, audit staff provid-

ed advisory services to local agencies. The Georgia CJIS audit program is regarded as exemplary by the FBI Access Integrity Unit.

CCH COMPLIANCE AUDITS

Utilizing federal funds awarded under the Edward Byrne Program for criminal history record improvement, GCIC grant staff conduct performance audits of Georgia criminal justice agencies, which focus on the reporting to GCIC of arrest fingerprint cards and corresponding final disposition information as required by state statute. In addition, grant staff research local court and other criminal justice files seeking final disposition information that has not been previously reported for arrests that are on the CCH file/database.
During FY'02, grant staff:
Conducted 138 CCH compliance audits
Researched 28,986 reported arrests sent to GCIC without a corresponding final disposition
Located final disposition information in 10,740 cases.

Such activity benefits not only criminal justice officials investigating criminal activity and adjudicating criminal cases, but also benefits the GCIC Firearms Program by providing information needed to properly process record check requests on persons attempting to purchase firearms.
The grant staff also conducted a comprehensive audit of GCIC processes designed for handling criminal record documents for inclusion to the central criminal record database. This six-month project yielded beneficial results and further strengthened the procedures and practices underway to handle criminal record documents. The CCH Compliance program was in its sixth year at the close of FY'02. With continued federal funding uncertain passed FY'03, GCIC management is evaluating the inclusion of these programs into its ongoing operations as of FY'04.

SECURITY OPERATIONS
During FY'02, GCIC received requests from federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for computerized investigative support in more than 2,369 high priority cases. A total of 5,883 reports were produced as a result of these requests. GCIC produced 601 reports, detailing inquiries of CJIS databases, in response to 502 requests for such assistance. GCIC also provided 4,458 criminal history records to attorneys for use in pending criminal cases or for their clients in other matters.

CUSTOMER
Support

G CIC's Customer Support Section is responsible for providing training and consultative services for Georgia's criminal justice agencies on all GCIC programs and services. During FY'02, 4,061 criminal justice employees received training within 1,749 hours of instruction. Each staff member of this section is a certified POST Instructor. In addition, the Customer Support Section provided core

planning and development work for an annual conference for CJIS Network Terminal Agency Coordinators (TACs). The August 2001 conference had more than 800 conferees that met to receive instruction on issues current to the operation of Georgia's criminal justice community. Planning and support for this annual conference requires resources from all GCIC operating components.

CJIS UPGRADES
Integration

UNISYS MAINFRAME
D uring FY'02, critical groundwork was laid to upgrade GCIC's Unisys mainframe computer that supports GCIC's legacy applications including the CJIS network and the CCH database. The upgrade scheduled for completion in the fall of 2002 will provide faster processing, greater storage, and establish a platform that will support future CJIS integration needs.

CCH SYSTEM REDESIGN & MODERNIZATION

The current Computerized Criminal History (CCH) System is 35 years old and utilizes obsolete software as well as an outdated database schema. Redesign is essential to move the system to a new platform with graphical interfaces and a relational database so as to increase ease of access and use, provide greater flexibility in retrieval and presentation of data and allow 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 for users in the field, including officers on patrol, prosecuting attorneys and judges on the bench.
Due to the complexity of the current CCH database and the age of the system, several incremental steps must be taken to redesign and modernize it. First, the current Georgia CCH System and database must be fully analyzed, mapped and documented. As a 35year-old system, it has become a patchwork of changes, modifications, and

dissemination limitations. GCIC entered into a contractual agreement with Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) to provide the analysis and documentation of the current CCH system. GTRI provides the research and analytical capability to develop documentation of the database, data definitions and the various programs and modules. In addition, they will develop database conversion rules to aid in the migration of the current CCH database to its new schema.

COURTS AUTOMATION

GCIC continues to be heavily involved with court disposition automation efforts, and as a result of these efforts, 122 courts representing 65 counties in Georgia now have automated court disposition reporting capabilities. In addition, GCIC is working

with the Georgia Superior Court Clerk's Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA) to automate court disposition data from all 159 Superior Court clerks' offices. Georgia Superior Court clerks are responsible for providing electronic collection and trans-

mission of disposition data to the GSCCCA. The GSCCCA will then transmit the disposition data to the GCIC. Court automation vendors must meet the GCIC and GSCCCA guidelines. Four vendors have met the GCIC requirements for transmission of final

disposition data as outlined in the GCIC Automated Disposition Guide. As a result, these vendors have been approved to send final disposition data from their local court sites to the GSCCCA server and to GCIC.

IMAGE ARCHIVE SYSTEM

GBI awarded the Image Archive System contract in July 2000. The Image Archive System stores documents containing fingerprint images, mugshot images, miscellaneous images, document images and text data. Images are stored as substantiation for criminal history record events and can be retrieved for review or printing by GCIC and eventually, by local criminal justice

agencies. The system was fully implemented in June 2001, with the final acceptance test completed in July 2001. Currently there are more 1,088,980 images stored within the system. The number of images on file represents only images processed since the system became operational in July 2001.

VICTIM NOTIFICATION INFORMATION SYSTEM
The Victim 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 provided by the victim when one of the following custody changes occur release from imprisonment, transferred to work release, release on extended furlough, released by mandatory release upon expiration of sentence, escape from confinement or the offender has died.
In addition to providing victim notification, the system also will function as a Jail Locator Index Record System (JLIRS). Entries of Georgia warrants will check the JLIRS to determine if the subject of the warrant is already in jail. This capability will help law enforcement agencies identify the location of wanted persons. A Request for Proposal (RFP) is being prepared with the Georgia Technology Authority (GTA).

RETRIEVAL & REPORTING SYSTEM

An RFP was written and released for a new Retrieval & Reporting System (RRS). The Unisys Corporation was chosen from a list of eight vendors bidding for the RRS contract. The installation of the software and all the components necessary for the upgrade completes Phase I of the project.

Phase II completion will include the implementation of the required design modifications, development, testing, documentation and training of the RRS system. Phase II of the RRS project has begun and is pending COBOL program changes. The COBOL program extracts transactions from

the audit trail file and sends the transactions to a log file that will be downloaded daily onto disks for storage. Once the program changes have been completed, these changes will be implemented into the new system. The system will be tested and documented followed by training of GBI personnel.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE INTEGRATION INITIATIVE

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.

VIRTUAL PRIVATE NETWORK
GCIC, in conjunction with the GTA is in the process of developing an RFP for a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for the State's criminal justice community. With the implementation of the VPN, the State of Georgia will meet federal requirements mandated for the security of criminal justice data.

DIVISION OF FORENSIC
Sciences
266 Positions $23,075,798 Budget

CRIME LABORATORY
Services
T he 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 to the criminal justice community of Georgia.

PERSONNEL
Growth

T he Division of Forensic Sciences (Georgia State Crime Laboratory) was formed by legislative act in 1952. The laboratory had five full-time staff members who

processed 651

cases that

year. In FY'02, 264 scientists and

FY'02: Case Backlog Reduction

technicians processed more than

Month/ Year

Total (all cases)

30-day Turnaround

127,011 reports.

June 1998

17,500

40 %

The laborato- June 1999 ry receives and

30,700

20 %

processes

June 2000

6,100

70 %

about 10,000 service

June 2001

1,383*

89 %

requests per month. The

June 2002

1,426

60 %

high water-

mark for

* Excludes DNA convicted

unworked

offender database

cases occurred

in October

1999 when the

laboratory had 35,857 backlogged cases. In the initial phases

of training new scientists in FY'00, training was concentrated

for three to four months to give the necessary knowledge,

Command Staff
Dan Kirk Deputy Director
DOFS Operations
Dr. George Herrin Assistant Deputy
Director
DOFS Operations
Karen Scott Assistant Deputy
Director

skills, and judgement required to perform 80-90 percent of the complex scientific testing necessary at the crime lab. During FY'01, additional instruction was given to the scientists to complete training in their respective fields of forensic science.
As the turn-around time reduction has minimized delays in the court system and as the laboratory has expanded its services, the law enforcement community

has responded with increasing numbers of submissions. In FY'99, the laboratory received 88,000 requests as compared to 110,000 in the previous year. In FY'01, almost 106,000 requests were processed. In FY'02, the laboratory released more than 127,011 requests.
With additional budget restraints (due to a weak economy) and the increased caseload, the laboratory has begun to developa backlog that continues to grow.

DOFS Operations
Bill Wall Assistant Deputy
Director

FY'02: DOFS Cases Worked
Forensic Biology .................................................... 3,728 CODIS Database .................................................. 31,360 Chemistry ............................................................... 48,010 Firearms .................................................................. 5,033 Latent Prints .......................................................... 1,749 Questioned Documents ....................................... 674 Toxicology ............................................................... 32,238 Trace Evidence ...................................................... 648 Medical Examiner................................................... 3,549 Total.......................................... 127,011

Med. Examiner's Operations
Dr. Kris Sperry Chief Medical Examiner
Med. Examiner's Operations

Scott Roberts Assistant Deputy
Director

LABORATORY
Services

Crime Lab Disciplines

D OFS 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.

Drug Identification
Analyzes and identifies suspected narcotics and other controlled substances as well as paints and accelerants.

FIREARMS SECTION

Forensic Biology/DNA Detects, identifies,

The Firearms Section was able to reduce the backlog of firearms related cases during FY'02 to three requests as of June 2002. There is a national shortage of trained firearm examiners. Since no individuals graduate college with the necessary skills for firearms examinations, all crime laboratories must train new staff in a program that can take to two years to complete. To solve part of this problem, the GBI, the Florida

Force sponsored a joint firearms training program. By the end of FY'02, most of the training was completed and five firearms examiners were assigned duty stations in all the regional laboratories, except the Southwestern Regional Crime Laboratory in Moultrie. The Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) increased to two units with the addition of a system for the Coastal Regional Crime Laboratory in Savannah. The unit in

and individualizes biological fluids. The section also maintains a computerized database called CODIS, (COmbined DNA Index System) that stores the DNA profiles of convicted sexual offenders and felons in Georgia. Evidence from all types of cases can be searched on the database to see if matches can be found and suspects identified.

Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and

the Headquarters Laboratory has been opera-

Pathology

the Royal Bahamas Police tional for several years.

Performs autopsies to

determine cause and

IMPLIED CONSENT

manner of death in criminal and coroner

Implied Consent provides Intoxilyzer basic certification

cases.

training in the operation of classes were held at the

the Intoxilyzer 5000 for the Georgia Public Safety

Toxicology Section

detection of drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. The section administers the

Training Center (GPSTC). The unit provided training for: The Georgia State Patrol The Department of Natural

Isolates and identifies drugs and poisons in human tissues.

quality control and assur- Resources

ance programs for Georgia's The federally-funded Police

breath alcohol testing pro- Corp.

gram. In FY'02, 43

The staff also participated in the Georgia Prosecuting

Attorney Council's seminar on DUI vehicular homicides.
Throughout the year, the Implied Consent Unit trained 1,411 new operators and maintained certification for 8,521 active operators. Forty-

eight new Intoxilyzer 5000 units were activated and inspections on 544 certified instruments were completed. Recertification 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 provided Georgia with approximately 8,000 certified Intoxilyzer operators.

QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

In addition to conducting routine examinations and comparisons of handwriting involved in forgery cases on checks and other financial instruments, Question Documents examines documentary evidence involved in more serious violent crimes.
At the request of the director, the section assisted the Air Force Office of Strategic Intelligence at Warner Robbins Air Force Base with an investigation as to several bomb threats that resulted in the closing of a vital hanger for the world's largest transport plane, the C5. This disruption caused an estimated loss of $5 million but more importantly slowed vital work on planes needed

during the initial stages of the Afghanistan bombing mission. Several bomb threat notes left in a restroom over the course of several months caused the evacuation of the hanger building on four occasions until cleared by bomb sniffing dogs. Handwriting examinations and comparisons identified the chief suspect resulting in prosecution.
In a Richmond County case, handwriting analysis helped establish an alibi for a homicide suspect. Handwriting that was identified on several hotel receipts established that a chief suspect in a murder case was not in the area at the time the homicide was committed.

Crime Lab Disciplines
Firearms Identification Compares bullets and cartridge cases to the firearms from which they were fired; utilizes the National Integrated Ballistics Identification Network (NIBIN), monitored by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).
Latent Prints Collects, preserves, identifies, and compares fingerprints from crime scenes and physical evidence utilizing the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).
Trace Evidence Examines evidence, including fibers, hairs, glass, shoe and tire impressions, and other forms of trace evidence, assisting in determining if a suspect was present at a crime scene.

FORENSIC PHOTOGRAPHY
Forensic Photography has moved into the digital age by adopting new techniques to record and transmit images vital to the prosecution of criminals. Evidence bearing latent prints can be digitally recorded, and through the use of sophisticated software programs, enhanced in ways not previously possible. For example, surface backgrounds that obscure a latent fingerprint image vital to an investigation can be subtracted to clarify the area of interest. This is not always the case using conventional photography.

TOXICOLOGY

Toxicology built on the momentum it developed in FY'01 and completed a record number of services of 32,238. The Toxicology Section has placed a high priority on expanding the panel of analytical techniques it offers in death investigation cases. This is especially true after investigating several cases involving poisoning by anti-freeze (ethylene glycol) and the

medical neuromuscular blocking agent: succinylcholine. These cases involved extensive literature searches and laboratory work to develop new and fully-validated analytical techniques. Results generated with in-house and collaborative laboratory work resulted in multiple homicide investigations being launched involving these rarely seen poisons.

Crime Lab Disciplines
Questioned Documents
Using a variety of techniques, the service examines and compares documents for possible forgery. It also determines if a suspect is linked to documents key to an investigation.

TRACE EVIDENCE

Forensic Photography

Processes and prints

Trace Evidence provides identifications, comparisons and

crime scene photo-

analysis of hair, fibers, paint, plastic, glass, footwear, tire

graphs.

impressions, fractured materials and other miscellaneous

materials. Forensic analysis, interpretation and courtroom testimony of scientists assigned to this unit plays a critical role 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.
Trace Evidence currently has a backlog of approximately 100 violent criminal cases, a reduction from 200 cases in

Implied Consent
Administers the state's breath alcohol testing program and provides training on the use of breath alcohol testing instruments.

FY'01. The current average turn-around time for cases is

approximately seven months for most services. A federal

grant administered by the CJCC has allowed the outsourc-

ing of paint cases.

Throughout the year, Trace Evidence has provided investigative leads to agencies. Some

of these investigative leads included vehicle year/make/model/color as determined from

paint left on the clothing of hit-and-run victims, brand/model of tires and footwear as

determined from impressions left at crime scene, and race of suspects as determined

from hair left at the scene.

LATENT PRINTS

The Latent Primts Section of the Crime Lab collects, preserves, identifies and compares fingerprints from crime scenes and physical evidence. The unit also interfaces with the Automated Fingerprint

Identification System (AFIS), a database that houses fingerprints of persons who have been arrested in Georgia.
In FY'02, Latent Prints processed 1,749 requests with an on-time rate of 94

percent (30 days or less). The section consists of four certified latent print examiners. The section was involved with the Walker County TriState Crematory investigation, asssisting with the identification process.

CHEMISTRY/DRUG IDENTIFICATION

Chemistry continues to improve and advance the testing and services offered by DOFS. In FY'02, a new method was developed and implemented for cocaine quantitations. This improvement required the use of High Performance Liquid Chromatography. This instrumentation was acquired last year for placement in all GBI Labs. The new method allows improved accuracy of the drug purity analysis.
Fire debris cases were extracted at all labs, with analysis performed in the Western Regional Laboratory. Additionally, an improved fire debris identification method was adopted. This new method brings the identification and reporting processes more closely into line with nationally recognized methodology.
Chemistry has worked to meet the needs of law enforcement agencies by providing additional resources to address the increased number of clandestine methamphetamine laboratories seized in Georgia. Working with the GBI Investigative

division, the laboratory has created a Clandestine Laboratory Response Team to enable lab scientists to respond to these dangerous sites. Through additional training and acquisition of equipment, the laboratory has been able to

implement a statewide team to respond to clandestine laboratory sites on a 24 hour a day/seven day a week basis. For improved response, a dedicated vehicle for the clandestine laboratory team was obtained through federal grant

funding. DOFS staff has aided in numerous training programs that will assist law enforcement officers in safely responding to these dangerous sites. There were 84 lab responses in FY'02 and the number is growing.

FORENSIC BIOLOGY/DNA

In July 2001, the backlog for the COmbined DNA Index System (CODIS) database was approximately 12,000, with about 2,200 samples being submitted each month. By the end of June 2002, only 1,000 new samples were awaiting testing. It is projected by December 2002 offender samples will be processed as they are received. Almost 32,000 offender samples were entered into CODIS this fiscal year. Samples are collected by the Department of Corrections and submitted to this unit for analysis. CODIS also contains DNA profiles from casework specimens collected from crime scenes or sexual assault cases. CODIS searches these profiles against cases 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 total number of samples in CODIS by July 2002 was more than 54,000.
Eighty-nine offender hits were observed and by June 2002, the total number of offender hits has reached 130. On average, there are seven offender hits per month.
The trend of non-sex offenders being linked to unsolved sexual assault cases continues. At the national level, six forensic hits and seven offender hits were observed. Because of the quality and quantity of casework data at the national level, GBI was awarded a two-year appointment to the National CODIS Board in December 2001.
During FY'02, DNA parentage testing was introduced as a new service. This is currently being utilized for GBI investigations only in criminal cases such as incest. The demand for this service is steadily increasing.

FACILITY
Improvements

W ith increasing workloads at GBI crime laboratories, renovations, upgrades and construction of new modern laboratory facilities were needed to keep pace with demand.
New laboratories to replace existing obsolete buildings are on schedule:
The Eastern Regional Crime Laboratory in Augusta, Richmond County, is scheduled for completion in November 2002.

The Central Regional Crime Laboratory in Macon, Bibb County, is scheduled for completion in 2003.

Toxicology and morgue additions to the Coastal Regional Crime Laboratory in Savannah, Chatham County, are scheduled for completion in early 2003.

Toxicology and morgue addition to the Southwestern Regional Crime Laboratory in Moultrie, Colquitt County, are scheduled for completion in 2003.

Progress: The new Crime Lab Annex located at Headquarters in Decatur. The Annex will opened its doors to business in September 2002. Dedication is scheduled for October 15, 2002.

The Northeastern Regional Crime Laboratory in Cleveland, White County, is the newest laboratory and scheduled for completion in late 2003.

The Headquarters Laboratory Annex and Morgue is scheduled for occupancy in September 2002. The new building is named in honor of the laboratory founder, Dr. Herman Jones.

The total forensic laboratory system will soon have eight locations strategically located throughout the state, with more than 250,000 square feet of modern scientific space.

QUALITY
Services

T he Division of Forensic Sciences has established a comprehensive quality assurance system that allows the GBI crime laboratory system to meet all of the requirements of two accrediting bodies. Prior to accreditation, DOFS was the only full-service forensic lab in the world certified to the ISO 9002 Quality Management Standard. Underwriters Laboratories, Incorporated (UL), was the crime lab's registrar to that standard since 1998. DOFS voluntarily discontinued certification with UL when it achieved new accreditation to the International Standard ISO 17025. On November 1, 2001, DOFS became the first

forensic lab in the United States to attain international accreditation to ISO 17025 through the National Forensic Science Technology Center. The accreditation certifies that DOFS meets international criterion in the areas of quality management and technical competence
DOFS also has maintained the accreditation requirements of the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB) since 1999. DOFS is unique in that it is the first forensic lab in the United States to be granted accreditation by both NFSTC and ASCLD/LAB.

INFORMATION
Management

F Y'02 saw some major changes in the way DOFS manages and stores data collected during analysis of evidentiary samples. Previously, most data was generated and stored in paper form. This year, several software packages were implemented that allow the direct transfer of scientific data from analytical instrumentation to the LIMS (Laboratory Information Management

System). With this single improvement, significant reductions in the amount of paper handled by laboratory staff for record keeping and filing have been realized. The lab has also gone through several design and development phases on the LIMS software itself, in a continuing effort to optimize its usefulness to the staff. More law enforcement agencies began using the Web site for the retrieval of

official reports. Additional equipment for the capture of digital photographs of evidence and visual test methods were installed.
With the use of information technology, digital imagery, and the Internet, the laboratory has been able to increase its efficiency in handling more than two million pages of scientific data generated each year and providing the results of scientific analysis

to law enforcement customers faster than ever before.
DOFS leads the nation in the use of modern computers to improve work processes.

ADMINISTRATIVE
Section
53 Positions $5,664,475 Budget

FINANCE

Office

Ray

Higgins

T he primary mission of the GBI Finance Office is to provide sound, solid advice and financial management to the Director's Office, the Administrative

Fiscal Officer/ Treasurer

Division, the Investigative Division, the Division of

Forensic Sciences, and the Georgia Crime Information Center. GBI Finance also adminis-

ters the funds for the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) that is attached to

the GBI for administrative purposes. The Finance Office is supervised by the agency's fis-

cal officer/ treasurer and consists of three main units: Budget, Accounting and

Purchasing. The office is supported by 22 dedicated employees, including two support

staff positions, and is responsible for all financial transactions involving the agency.

BUDGET
T he Budget Unit is supervised by a budget administrator and consists of three budget analysts. The unit is responsible for the development and management of the GBI budget. Likewise, this unit is responsible for monitoring all expenditures fromwork units as well as fund sources for the entire agency. Each member of the Budget Unit works directly with division personnel to provide guidance and approval of expenditures for travel and operating costs, including monitoring 27 grants. The unit also is responsible for processing all allotments through the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget to the Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services. All amendments to the Annual Operating Budget are developed and processed by the budget staff.
During FY'02, the budget staff managed an overall

FY'02: Total Funds Budgeted by Division
Admin.

GCIC

Investigative Division

5,664,475

12,664,202

40,246,979

DOFS

23,075,798

Criminal Justice

Annual Operating Budget of $81,651,454 (GBI

Coordinating Council (CJCC)

only, CJCC not

State Funds ............................ $360,631

included), while

Federal Funds ................... $64,591,888

creating and devel- Other Funds ........................ $4,833,273

oping the FY'02

Total ................................... $69,785,792

Amended,

Information

Technology, and FY'03 budget requests. The effort resulted in the funding of 37 new positions, 30 new

vehicles and an appropriation of $66,118,712 in state funds for FY'03.

ACCOUNTING

Center (GCIC), the section received and recorded more than $1.5 million in revenue

T he Accounting Unit is responsible for all accounting transactions, including the

collections for instant gun check, criminal history, and fingerprint-licensing programs.
The section is responsi-

reconciliations of cash

FY'02: Finance Activity

ble for transmitting all revenue collections to

accounts, GA

the state treasury on a

Fund I

monthly basis.

accounts, sub- 70,000

70,475

The Accounts Payable

sidiary ledgers,

Section (AP) consists of

and the general 60,000

four employees including

ledger. The unit also han-

50,000

a supervisor. This section is responsible for

dles all of the accounting

40,000

processing all payments for the GBI and CJCC.

transactions for the

30,000

28,667

22,257

In FY'02, the section disbursed approximately

Criminal Justice

20,000 18,962

17,950 checks and made more than 1,000 elec-

Coordinating Council

10,000

tronic payments for subgrant payments, travel

(CJCC), attached to the GBI for admin-

0

Expense Purchase Deposits Paychecks

Payments Orders

/Dir. Dep.

reimbursements, and invoice payments. In addition to these day-to-

istrative pur-

day responsibilities, the

poses. This

section is responsible for

accounts for a

all 1099 processing and our semi-annual

large portion of GBI revenue, including sev- prompt pay reports. AP also assists in trav-

eral federal grants as well as many cash

el and per diem expense reconciliations.

disbursements and sub-grant payments.

Likewise, AP administers the American

The unit is a lead contact with the State

Express card travel program and enters

Department of Audits, supervised by the

payments for charges on our purchasing

accounting director, and is broken down

cards as well as payments for all rental

into three main sections: Accounts

space.

Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Payroll.

Two administrative staff positions provide

The Payroll Section has two employees

critical support to all areas of the Finance including the payroll supervisor. This sec-

Office.

tion processes the semi-monthly payroll for

The Accounts Receivable Section (AR) consists of four people, including a supervisor. The section is responsible for all revenue received by the GBI. In FY'02, the unit collected and recorded more than $142 million through 70,475 deposits, and processed electronic fund transfers from several different fund sources, including state funds, governor's emergency funds, federal grants, and forfeitures. In conjunction with the Georgia Crime Information

all employees of the GBI and the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. During FY'02, payroll effectively processed approximately 3,874 paychecks and 18,383 direct deposits in a timely manner. In addition to the routine payroll operations, payroll also is responsible for financial entries to create deductions for items such as insurance premiums, contributions to the 401K program, payments to the credit unions and entries for all salary adjustments.

The Purchasing Section of the Finance Office has four employees, including a purchasing supervisor. The section is responsible for entering all purchase orders for the GBI and CJCC. Last year, purchasing entered approximately 2,976 purchase orders for var-

ious items, such as vehicle purchases, large equipment purchases, repairs and maintenance. Similarly, Purchasing has the primary responsibility of overseeing the Visa Purchasing Card Program (P-Card) and training employees on the use and reconciliation of the cards.

In FY'02, there were more than 6,000 transactions on the P-Card from more than 540 cardholders. As a result, approximately $2 million in P-Card activity took place.
The Purchasing Section is responsible for coordinating the entire procurement process by ensuring the

Finance Office has all appropriate documentation. Purchasing also acts as the print coordinator for the agency and handles all inhouse procurements by coordinating the bid process.

LEGAL
Services

T he Legal Services Division is staffed with six full-time employees, including two attorneys (the director and

more than 28 biological speci-

Mark B. Jackson
Director

deputy director); an assistant deputy direc- mens.

tor (ADD); two legal assistants, and the

The

newest addition, a records management

Open Records Unit has provided training

technician.

sessions to various agencies

OPEN RECORDS

FY'02: Open Records Activity

throughout the state regarding the Open Records Act. The ADD spearheaded a major

The Open Records Unit, which includes archives, is

Open Record Requests............. 2,014

project this year. He and others, including representatives of the media, co-authored a

within Legal Services and functions under the direction of the

Subpoenas Processed................ 57

booklet entitled Georgia Law Enforcement and the Open

ADD. The ADD has a legal

Court Orders............ 10 Records Act. The booklet has

assistant and a records man-

Production of

proven to be a valuable tool

agement technician to assist in Documents............... 71 for law enforcement agencies.

the processing of open records

Biological

It was reviewed for subject

and archives requests. The open records requests have

Specimens............... 28

matter and content and approved by the Georgia

continued to increase, from

Association of Chiefs of Police,

1,891 in FY'01 to 2,014 in

the Georgia Department of

FY'02. In addition to the requests, the Open Law, the Georgia Department of Public

Records Unit processed 57 subpoenas, 10 Safety, the Georgia First Amendment

court orders, 71 production of document

Foundation, the Georgia Press Association,

requests and orchestrated the release of

the Georgia Public Safety Training Center-

Georgia Police Academy Division, the Georgia Sheriff's Association, and the Prosecuting Attorneys Council of Georgia.
LEGAL COUNSEL
In addition to the open records function, Legal Services continues to provide legal counsel to the GBI and its employees via

training and legal updates. The office drafted and disseminated 26 legal updates and held 29 training sessions for current agents, new agents and supervisors. During FY'02, 14 new civil cases were filed and the office provided coordination with the Georgia Attorney General's Office in handling these cases.
The Legal Services Division

also drafted significant proposed legislation. These bills included the homeland security bill, the autopsy photographs bill and legislation regarding cremation and the abuse of a corpse, which resulted from the TriState Crematory investigation.

PROFESSIONAL
Standards

T he Office of Professional Standards (OPS) is responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct made against GBI employees. The office

Bill Malueg
Inspector

reviews and investigates all complaints, determining

whether they have legitimacy or lack merit. Each year the complaints are reviewed and

studied to identify any patterns of misconduct. Based on those findings, OPS then rec-

ommends appropriate actions and/or training. A second investigative position was added

this year due to increased activity.

During FY'02, the Office of Professional Standards:
Conducted 14 internal affairs investigations
Conducted 9 preliminary inquiries

Conducted 11 administrative inquiries Conducted 12 reviews of use of force Conducted 72 exit interviews Took 37 personnel actions

PERSONNEL
Office

T he Personnel Office is comprised of one parttime and eight fulltime employees. The office is responsible for providing support to the three divi-

sions and the Administrative Section of the GBI in all human resource matters. The routine responsibilities include the following: recruiting

LuAnne Worley
Director
and hiring of new employees; processing personnel

transactions; handling employee relations matters;

FY'02: Employee Breakdown

classifying positions; developing new and revising

CJCC

Admin.

existing agency jobs; moni-

toring the compensation structure; establishing minimum job qualifications;

GCIC

53 35

Investigative Division

administering Equal

Employment Opportunity

134

(EEO) services; administer-

ing the agency's drug

431

screening program; oversee-

ing the performance man-

266

agement process; assisting

employees with benefits; serving as the liaison for

DOFS

workers' compensation;

coordinating the student

internship and youth

apprenticeship programs;

and managing the

Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The Office of Personnel provided manage-
ment 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 responsibili-

ties, staff in the Office of Personnel provid-

ed information and assistance for the

FY'02: Personnel Office Activity

national re-accreditation process through the Commission on Accreditation for Law

Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and the

Approximately 2,275 applications for employment were received and processed.

state certification process through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police.

Approximately 909 personnel transactions were completed and processed (promotions, new appointments, transfers, retirements, separation, etc.).

Applicable policies and procedures were reviewed for necessary changes, as onethird of the standards established by this program are personnel-related. The office

Approximately 150 applications were processed for the internship program, with 33 college students placed.

also played a key role in coordinating and providing data for the GBI's Workforce Plan.

Two special agent hiring processes were held, with Basic Agent School conducted in August 2001 and February 2002.

PUBLIC
Affairs

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

John Bankhead
Director

between the agency and the media/public, coordinating

the release of information on investigations, missing persons, fugitives, agency achieve-

ments, programs, and any other items of interest that may arise. During FY'02 the Public

Affairs Office coordinated the media on several high-profile cases, including the investiga-

tion into improperly disposed human remains at the Tri-State Crematory in Walker

County. The case received international attention and drew media inquiries from media

as far away as Japan and Russia.

Along with its daily duties, the office also writes articles for law enforcement publica-

tions, publishes the annual

report and recruiting

brochures, compiles a monthly newsletter for

WEB SITE

retirees, schedules speaking

During FY'02, almost two million Internet users

engagements, and produces

visited the GBI Web site. The site can be viewed

informational and training

at www.ganet.org/gbi.

videos. The Public Affairs

director also represents the

agency at the Georgia General Assembly, maintains

FY'02: Web Site Hits

the GBI Web site and responds to the public's requests for information via

Sex Offender Registry ...................... 1,432,800 Employment ................................................. 27,745

electronic mail.

Unidentified Remains ................................. 16,312

In January of 2002, the GBI partnered with broadcasters and emergency management

Criminal History ........................................... 11,650 Wanted Persons .......................................... 10,799

to establish an abducted

Uniform Crime Reporting .......................... 10,124

child alert for Georgia. The program was named Levi's Call: Georgia's Amber Alert in

GCIC ................................................................ 9,962 Missing Persons ............................................ 8,870

memory of 11-year-old Levi Frady who was abducted from Forsyth County in1997

Investigative ................................................. 7,509 DOFS ............................................................... 7,251

and murdered. The initiative

Unsolved homicides ..................................... 6,505

was researched and devel-

oped by the Public Affairs Office and utilizes broadcast

The above statistics represent the most

stations to solicit the public's

visited pages on the GBI Web site and is not

help in locating a child who

cumulative.

has been abducted and is in

danger. Activation of the alert

can only be requested by

local law enforcement.

STAFF
Services

Staff Services provides a variety of support functions for the GBI, including facility management, fleet management, asset management, telecommunications, agent supply, and mail.
The Facility Management Section worked on the following projects during FY'02:
The new Region 6 Investigative Office in Milledgeville, Baldwin County, was completed in April 2002. The new facility replaced a commercially-leased building that no longer met the needs of the Investigative Division.
Construction will be completed in August of 2002 on a 75,000-square-foot laboratory annex and free-standing morgue at the GBI Headquarters Complex. This annex will house crime lab administration and three operational units of the crime lab, including the Medical Examiner's Office.
Construction will

be finished on the new Eastern Regional Crime Lab in Augusta, Richmond County, in October 2002. This facility will replace the existing 24-year-old building and provides much needed modern laboratory space. In addition, the facility will have a fullyoperational Medical Examiner's Officea new service provided by the lab.
Approximately eight acres of land was acquired from the Telford Hulsey Industrial Park in White County as a site for a new North-

eastern Regional Crime Lab

Jon Paget
Director

and replace-

ment

Region 8 Investigative Office. Construction will begin in August 2002 and should be completed in the fall of 2003. Once finished, the crime laboratory will 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 located in Gainesville that no longer meets opera-

tional needs.
The General Assembly appropriated $430,000 to build free-standing Crime Analysis Garages at six regional investigative offices. These garages will provide office space, a garage bay, and lab space for the regional crime scene specialist. This past year, three of these garages were completed at regional investigative offices in Perry,

The new Milledgeville Regional Investigative Office was opened for business in April of 2002. The facility is named after former SAC John T. "Sonny" King who died in the line of duty in 1985.

Thomasville, and Kingsland. Evidence will be brought to these specialized garages and processed in a controlled environment.
Construction began on a lab annex and morgue at the Coastal Regional Crime Lab in Savannah. The 10,000-square-foot addition will provide additional Toxicology lab space, as well as a medical examiner's suite and morgue. This is the first time Medical Examiner's services have been provide by the lab. Construction should be complete in February 2003.
Construction began on a new Central

Regional Crime Lab in Macon, Bibb County. This facility will replace the existing 21-year-old laboratory building and provide much needed modern laboratory space and a morgue facility. Construction should be complete in April 2003.
An architectural firm was selected for design and construction administration on a laboratory and morgue annex to our Southwestern Regional Crime Lab in Moultrie. Construction is estimated to begin in early 2003.

SUPPLY & MAILROOM
The Supply & Mailroom Section was transferred from Investigative Staff Services to Staff Services on September 16, 2001. The staff consists of three full-time employees and one temporary employee. This section maintains approximately $500,000 worth of agent inventory to include weapons, body armor, and radio gear, along with other equipment and supplies needed by the agents. The section also maintains a record on equipment issued, returned, lost and stolen.
The mailroom processes and sends out approximately 3,000 pieces of mail weekly, including inter-office mail to 41 GBI offices throughout the state. It also provides a courier service.
During FY'02 this section worked closely with Investigative Staff Services on the following special details: Verified the equipment needs for two new agent classes and issued the items as well as verifying with the agents that all items were accounted for.
Received and prepared equipment to be issued for child abuse specialists and for members of the new Clandestine Laboratory Response Team.
Prepared and issued items for the Walker County detail.
Prepared paperwork for shotguns to be traded in for equipment needed.
Verified outdated radios and prepared for surplus to allow new radios to be purchased.
Completed an extensive inventory on weapons.

FLEET & ASSET

The Fleet and Asset Section manages the GBI's fleet of more that 500 vehicles and GBI assets totally nearly 5,000 items valued in excess of $32 million. The Section managed and supported GBI staff in the use of the Fleet Anywhere software. Fleet Anywhere provides GBI staff with

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. An additional position was added this fiscal year in order to help manage and account for the growing inventory and surplus program.

OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES
Staff Services is responsible for the administration of the Headquarters' security personnel contract. A new request for proposal was written and successful executed during FY'02. The new contract was once again awarded to Wackenhut.
Staff Service also provides telecommunication management, risk management and contract administration for the agency.

ORGANIZATIONAL
Chart
Board of Public Safety
Director Vernon M. Keenan

Assistant Director Christina Ash

Assistant Director: Assists the Director in establishing agency policies and coordinates the management of administrative, personnel and new program issues.
Represents the Director on various boards and assumes the duties of the Director in his absence.

Investigative Division
Kent Wilson Director for Investigations
At the request of the Governor, law enforcement and district attorneys, the Investigative Division provides criminal investigative assistance to the law enforcement community statewide.
Combats illicit drug trade through specialized drug enforcement units.
Provides specialized services, including computer forensics, health care fraud investigations and explosives and bomb disposal.

Georgia Crime Information Center
Paul Heppner Deputy Director Operates the Georgia Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) network and audits systems for other agencies. Maintains Georgia's repository for all criminal history records and fingerprints. Staffs and operates the Georgia Firearms Program. Collects and compiles crime statistics, the Sexually Violent Offender Registry, and the Protective Order Registry.

Division of
Forensic Sciences
Dan Kirk Deputy Director
Furnishes scientific support to the state's criminal justice community.
Provides scientific, forensic testing, including Firearms, Trace Evidence, Chemistry, Questioned Documents, Toxicology, Forensic Biology/DNA, Pathology, and Latent Fingerprints.
Provides expert testimony in court.

Administration
Supports the Investigative Division, GCIC and DOFS in carrying out their duties.
Consists of: Finance Office (Ray Higgins, Fiscal Officer/Treasurer); Legal Services (Mark Jackson, Director); Personnel Office (LuAnne Worley, Director); Professional Standards (Bill Malueg, Inspector); Public Affairs (John Bankhead, Director); Staff Services (Jon Paget, Director).