Tueday, June 28, 2005
Contact: Spence Jackson or Jessica Robinson, (573)751-0290
Blunt Announces Improvements in Conducting Background Checks
JEFFERSON CITY—Gov. Matt Blunt announced enhancements within the Missouri State Highway Patrol to reduce the time it takes to process fingerprint background checks.
Currently it takes the patrol six to eight weeks to process fingerprint-based applicant background checks. Identix Identification Services, Inc. (IIS) has been awarded an exclusive contract from the State of Missouri, under the name of MOAPS, to provide statewide electronic fingerprint services and related processing for licensing, employment and citizenry purposes for the State of Missouri. Using services by IIS will reduce the patrol’s processing time to five business days.
The patrol expects to process in excess of 150,000 applicant electronic fingerprint submissions each year. The Highway Patrol’s decision to contract services with IIS is consistent with the governor’s call to use technology to make state government more efficient. Reducing the processing time of fingerprint-based applicant background checks will be a tremendous benefit to state and local agencies requiring these types of background checks and improves the safety of all Missourians due to the faster turnaround in processing time.
The federal and state mandates requiring employee background checks based on fingerprints continue to increase. Under the terms of the contract, IIS will schedule, capture and submit electronic fingerprint images and demographic information from applicants throughout the state for a wide range of public and private employers, foster and adoptive parents, volunteers, non-profit youth service organizations, transportation agencies, licensed professionals, and from individual citizens.
The new system will begin on July 20, 2005, allowing the Highway Patrol to reduce the time it takes to process fingerprint background checks by utilizing MOAPS.
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