Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY:

Department of the Army, DoD.

ACTION:

Notice to alter a system of records.

SUMMARY:

The Department of the Army is altering a system of records notice in its existing inventory of record systems subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended.

DATES:

This proposed action will be effective without further notice on June 14, 2000, unless comments are received which result in a contrary determination.

ADDRESSES:

Privacy Act System Notice Manager, Records Management Division, U.S. Army Records Management and Declassification Agency, ATTN: TAPC-PDD-RP, Stop 5603, Ft. Belvoir, VA 22060-5603.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Janice Thornton at (703) 806-4390 or DSN 656-4390.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The Department of the Army systems of records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended, have been published in the Federal Register and are available from the address above.

The proposed system report, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, was submitted on April 24, 2000, to the House Committee on Government Reform, the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to paragraph 4c of Appendix I to OMB Circular No. A-130, ‘Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records About Individuals,’ dated February 8, 1996 (February 20, 1996, 61 FR 6427).

A0195-2b USACIDC

System name:

Criminal Investigation and Crime Laboratory Files (July 7, 1997, 62 FR 36267).

Changes:

Authority for maintenance of the system:

Add to entry ‘Army Regulation 195-2, Criminal Investigation Activities.’

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses:

Add a new paragraph ‘To the Department of Veterans Affairs to verify veterans claims. Criminal investigative files may be used to adjudicate veteran claims for disability benefits, post traumatic stress disorder, and other veteran entitlements.’

Storage:

Delete from entry ‘card files and indices;’

Retention and disposal:

Delete from entry ‘Destruction is by shredding.’

A0195-2b USACIDC

System name:

Criminal Investigation and Crime Laboratory Files (July 7, 1997, 62 FR 36267).

System location:

Headquarters, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, 6010 6th Street, Building 1465, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5506.

Segments exist at subordinate U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command elements. Addresses may be obtained from the Commander, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, 6010 6th Street, Building 1465, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5506.

An automated index of cases is maintained at the U.S. Army Crime Records Center, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, 6010 6th Street, Building 1465, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5585 and at the Defense Security Service, Army Liaison Office, P.O. Box 46060, Baltimore, MD 21240-6060.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:

Any individual, civilian or military, involved in or suspected of being involved in or reporting possible criminal activity affecting the interests, property, and/or personnel of the U.S. Army.

Categories of records in the system:

Name, Social Security Number, rank, date and place of birth, chronology of events; reports of investigation containing statements of witnesses, subject and agents; laboratory reports, documentary evidence, physical evidence, summary and administrative data pertaining to preparation and distribution of the report; basis for allegations; Serious or Sensitive Incident Reports, modus operandi and other investigative information from Federal, State, and local investigative agencies and departments; similar relevant documents. Indices contain codes for the type of crime, location of investigation, year and date of offense, names and personal identifiers of persons who have been subjects of electronic surveillance, suspects, subjects and victims of crimes, report number which allows access to records noted above; agencies, firms, Army and Defense Department organizations which were the subjects or victims of criminal investigations; and disposition and suspense of offenders listed in criminal investigative case files, witness identification data.

Authority for maintenance of the system:

10 U.S.C. 3013, Secretary of the Army; Army Regulation 195-2, Criminal Investigation Activities; and E.O. 9397 (SSN).

Purpose(s):

To conduct criminal investigations and crime prevention activities; to accomplish management studies involving the analysis, compilation of statistics, quality control, etc., to ensure that completed investigations are legally sufficient and result in overall improvement in techniques, training and professionalism.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories of users and the purposes of such uses:

In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows:

Information concerning criminal or possible criminal activity is disclosed to Federal, State, local and/or foreign law enforcement agencies in accomplishing and enforcing criminal laws; analyzing modus operandi, detecting organized criminal activity, or criminal justice employment. Information may also be disclosed to foreign countries under the provisions of the Status of Forces Agreements, or Treaties.

To the Department of Veterans Affairs to verify veterans claims. Criminal investigative files may be used to adjudicate veteran claims for disability benefits, post traumatic stress disorder, and other veteran entitlements.

The ‘Blanket Routine Uses’ set forth at the beginning of the Army's compilation of systems of records notices also apply to this system.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, and disposing of records in the system:

Storage:

Paper records in file folders; automated indices; computer magnetic tapes, disks, and printouts.

Retrievability:

By name or other identifier of individual.

Safeguards:

Access is limited to designated authorized individuals having official need for the information in the performance of their duties. Buildings housing records are protected by security guards.

Retention and disposal:

At Headquarters, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC), criminal investigative case files are retained for 40 years after final action, except that at USACIDC subordinate elements, such files are retained from 1 to 5 years depending on the level of such unit and the data involved. Laboratory reports at the USACIDC laboratory are destroyed after 5 years.

System manager(s) and address:

Commander, Headquarters, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, 6010 6th Street, Building 1465, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5506.

Notification procedure:

Individuals seeking to determine whether information about themselves is contained in this system should address written inquiries to the Director, U.S. Army Crime Records Center, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, ATTN: CICR-FP, 6010 6th Street, Building 1465, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5585.

For verification purposes, individual should provide the full name, date and place of birth, current address, telephone numbers, and signature.

Record access procedures:

Individual seeking access to information about themselves contained in this system should address written inquiries to the Director, U.S. Army Crime Records Center, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, ATTN: CICR-FP, 6010 6th Street, Building 1465, Fort Belvoir, VA 22060-5585.

For verification purposes, individual should provide the full name, date and place of birth, current address, telephone numbers, and signature.

Contesting record procedures:

The Army's rules for accessing records, and for contesting contents and appealing initial agency determinations are contained in Army Regulation 340-21; 32 CFR part 505; or may be obtained from the system manager.

Record source categories:

Suspects, witnesses, victims, USACIDC special agents and other personnel, informants; various Department of Defense, federal, state, and local investigative agencies; departments or agencies of foreign governments; and any other individual or organization which may supply pertinent information.

Exemptions claimed for the system:

Parts of this system may be exempt pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(j)(2) if the information is compiled and maintained by a component of the agency which performs as its principle function any activity pertaining to the enforcement of criminal laws.

An exemption rule for this system has been promulgated in accordance with requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(1), (2), and (3), (c) and (e) and published in 32 CFR part 505. For additional information contact the system manager.