DOJ Tracks Crime Data: Another Privacy Act System Goes Live
Published Date: 10/15/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Justice is setting up a new system to keep track of crime and justice data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. This system will help gather and share important info about crime, offenders, and victims to improve understanding and safety. The new rules take effect right away, but people have until November 16, 2026, to share their thoughts.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.
BJS will collect names, SSNs, and health data
BJS will collect and store personally identifiable and sensitive information from many groups — including names, addresses, social security numbers (SSN), criminal history, and medical information — from respondents such as victims, inmates, probationers, arrestees, juveniles in placement, and others. The system explicitly lists identifiers like SSN, FBI ID, state DOC ID, Alien Registration Number, and contact information.
Data may be used only for statistics and research
BJS is prohibited from using individual-level data for law enforcement, compliance, or to make determinations about an individual's benefits; the data may be used only for statistical or research purposes under statutes including 34 U.S.C. 10231(a) and 34 U.S.C. 10134. PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) collections have additional confidentiality protections.
BJS official records retained indefinitely until NARA acts
BJS official records (including final collected data and related research records) are classified as Unscheduled Records and cannot be destroyed; they must be retained indefinitely until the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) approves a records disposition schedule. Working data files and duplicates will be disposed of when no longer needed.
Records can be shared for approved research and with contractors
BJS may disclose records or portions of records as routine uses to contractors, award recipients, subcontractors, consultants, other federal agencies, State, local, and Tribal governments, researchers, and others for approved statistical, research, and evidence-building purposes. For administrative statistical data collections, identifiers such as SSN may be used for record linkage.
Penalties for violating BJS confidentiality rules
Anyone who violates BJS's confidentiality provisions under 34 U.S.C. 10231 may be punished by a fine of up to $10,000, in addition to any other penalties imposed by Federal law. BJS also requires contractors and award recipients to follow strict security and data-destruction rules.
Access rights are limited; special request rules apply
A major part of this system is exempted from Privacy Act subsections (c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (e)(4)(H), and (f) under 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(4); a determination as to exemption will be made when a request is received. Privacy Act access requests must be in writing, include full name, address, date and place of birth, be signed, and be either notarized or submitted under penalty of perjury.
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