The National Crime Information Center was established in 1967 by the FBI as a clearinghouse for information on criminal investigations. Initially tracking stolen cars and wanted persons, the data base now includes missing persons, unidentified persons, criminal history, and a violent gang/terrorist file. It is available to federal, state, and local law enforcement and other criminal justice agencies and is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Currently the system handles 2 million requests a day from law enforcement agencies. This information assists authorized agencies in criminal justice and related law enforcement objectives, such as apprehending fugitives, locating missing persons, locating and returning stolen property, as well as in the protection of the law enforcement officers encountering the individuals described in the system.
