PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

§20961 Access to National Crime Information Databases

Title 34 › Subtitle II — Protection of Children and Other Persons › CHAPTER 209 — CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFETY › SUBCHAPTER I — SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION AND NOTIFICATION › Part C — Access to Information and Resources Needed To Ensure That Children Are Not Attacked or Abused › § 20961

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Even if other laws say otherwise, the Attorney General must let the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and government child‑protection agencies access national crime databases, only to help law enforcement or to investigate and respond to child abuse, neglect, or exploitation, and must set rules limiting access to staff with training, certification, and background screening.

Title 34, §20961

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(a)In general

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Attorney General shall ensure access to the national crime information databases (as defined in section 534 of title 28) by—

(1)the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, to be used only within the scope of the Center’s duties and responsibilities under Federal law to assist or support law enforcement agencies in administration of criminal justice functions; and

(2)governmental social service agencies with child protection responsibilities, to be used by such agencies only in investigating or responding to reports of child abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

(b)Conditions of access

The access provided under this section, and associated rules of dissemination, shall be—

(1)defined by the Attorney General; and

(2)limited to personnel of the Center or such agencies that have met all requirements set by the Attorney General, including training, certification, and background screening.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 16961 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

§20961 Access to National Crime Information Databases

Summary

Title 34, §20961

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Citations & Metadata