Who operates the NCIC?

The National Crime Information Center (NCIC) is operated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI manages the NCIC, ensuring the system is up-to-date, secure, and effectively accessible to law enforcement agencies across the country. This centralized database plays a crucial role in sharing information about criminal records, stolen property, missing persons, and other vital law enforcement data.

Understanding the function of the FBI in relation to the NCIC is important for grasping how national crime data is managed and disseminated to support law enforcement efforts. Other entities, such as the Department of Justice and Homeland Security, may have roles in criminal justice and national security, but they do not operate the NCIC. State police departments utilize the NCIC to perform queries and retrieve information but are not responsible for its operation or maintenance.