This FAQ document explains what the National Criminal History Improvement Program (NCHIP) is and why the program is critical to help states implement record change and sealing legislation.

The Alliance for Safety and Justice (ASJ)  and the National Coalition for Shared Safety (NCSS) applaud federal leaders for taking significant steps this year to dramatically increase funds to improve safety and justice policy in the U.S., culminating on December 20th with a spending package that is expected to fund the federal government for this fiscal year.

“This morning’s final passage of SB 288 is a victory for Ohio families, crime survivors, and all those who are advocating for safer communities in our state. We’ve made great strides in investing in a public safety system that prioritizes rehabilitation, and SB 288 builds upon that progress to improve safety even further.

“For many communities, these have been increasingly difficult times with trauma and pain being felt across the state,” said Elisa Bradley, Lima member of Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. “As crime survivors, we value healing and rehabilitation as pathways to safer communities.”

“Ensuring public safety is an essential function of government – this research reveals a massive gap between the needs of those harmed and the capacities of the justice system.”

“The priority of our criminal justice system should be to keep our communities safe and improve outcomes for those who have served their time. The barriers that people with old records face when they’re reentering society do nothing to keep us safe or to end cycles of crime. Together, we can adopt proven solutions that bolster our local workforce and set people on a path towards redemption. We have the tools to strengthen communities and empower those who are looking to work,” said Subhash Kateel, Florida State Director for the Alliance for Safety and Justice.

“It’s been proven time and time again that the safest communities in the country don’t have the most police or prisons; they have the most resources,” said Jay Jordan, President of Alliance for Safety and Justice. “More after school programs, substance abuse counseling, victims’ services, and housing and career resources are critical components of safe communities. Heal The Vote is a campaign created by and for people who are victims of crime to stand up and demand lawmakers pay attention to exactly what’s needed in our communities – and then to hold them accountable to making it happen.”

“There is no cure-all for violence, but there are common sense public safety solutions that we know how to implement,” explains Aswad Thomas, a gun violence survivor and Vice President of the Alliance for Safety and Justice. “It is a matter of building the political will at the city, state, and national levels to bring these solutions to scale. Crime survivors have been working tirelessly to do just that. With Scaling Safety they now have a blueprint for a concerted call to action in city halls and statehouses across the country.”

“Miami Dade County has an opportunity to lead by example and be a model for what it means to invest in safety and center those with direct lived experience in creating better solutions to making all of us safe.”

“Supporting crime victims in their recovery is one of many proven solutions to violence and crime. When we provide access to critical services and programs, we help put an end to cycles of trauma that make us all less safe.”