Compilation of Rules and Regulations of the State of Georgia
Department 140 - GEORGIA CRIME INFORMATION CENTER COUNCIL
Chapter 140-2 - PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE
Rule 140-2-.09 - Personnel Security Standards

(1) Criminal justice agency employees, and other personnel as identified by the GCIC Director, who handle criminal justice information shall consent to investigations of their moral character, reputation and honesty. All applicants, including appropriate information technology (IT) personnel having access to CJIS systems information, shall submit to a state and national fingerprint-based identification check to be conducted within 30 days of employment, assignment or subsequent re-employment. Investigations should produce information sufficient to determine applicants' suitability and fitness for employment.

(2) Criminal justice agencies, governmental dispatch centers and other governmental agencies handling criminal justice information shall disqualify applicants convicted by any state or the federal government of any felony, or have convictions of sufficient misdemeanors to establish a pattern of disregard for the law. If the applicant appears to be a fugitive or have an arrest history without conviction for a felony or serious misdemeanor, the Director or criminal justice agency head, or his/her designee, will review the matter and decide if access/employment is appropriate.

(3) Giving false information shall disqualify applicants and be cause for employee dismissal.

(4) Agencies identified in subparagraph (2) of this Rule shall establish security constraints for all personnel who work in secure areas where criminal justice information is stored, collected or disseminated. Terminal operators and practitioners shall access the CJIS network only for purposes within their authority. Each criminal justice agency authorized to access CJIS network information must have a written disciplinary policy for violators of GCIC Council Rules and GCIC/FBI CJIS Security Policy as amended.

(5) Within their political subdivisions, criminal justice agencies must monitor the selection, utilization and retention of non-criminal justice personnel who are authorized direct access to criminal justice information in support of criminal justice operations.

(6) All personnel whose jobs require them to access or process criminal justice information shall sign an Awareness Statement for permanent filing in the employees' personnel file. Should the content of the Awareness Statement change by act of law, action by the Director or other official act, agency heads shall direct their employees to sign amended Awareness Statement forms when provided by GCIC.