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Tribal Access Program (TAP)

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Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information (TAP)

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) launched the Tribal Access Program for National Crime Information (TAP) in August 2015 and has expanded yearly to provide Tribes access to national crime information systems for federally authorized criminal justice and non-criminal justice purposes. The Tribal Access Program is formally authorized by Congress “…to enhance the ability of tribal governments and their authorized agencies to access, enter information into, and obtain information from national criminal information databases…”. TAP allows selected federally-recognized Tribes to more effectively serve and protect their nation’s citizens by ensuring the exchange of critical data across the Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) systems and other national crime information systems.

TAP is funded by the Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART), the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), and the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW).

There are currently 152 Tribes with over 500 tribal government agencies participating in TAP.

Read The Press Release on the FY26 TAP Open Application Period

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“The Tribal Access Program has been an immense support to our work serving the members of the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community.  It has allowed us to efficiently process fingerprints and obtain important background information regarding potential caregivers in a timely manner, which helps us provide safe and responsive services to our families. The system is easy to use, reliable, and fits well into our daily work processes. Having minimal delays in receiving background information has greatly improved our department’s efficiency and ability to make informed decisions quickly. Overall, the Tribal Access Program has been a valuable resource for our team and has positively impacted the work we do for our community.” 
- Adrienne Haines, Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community Social Services Program Manager

Selection of Tribes for participation in the program will be limited this year based on funding availability.        

List of TAP Tribes by State  

Alphabetical list of TAP Tribes

View a map of TAP Tribes

 

E-mail: TribalAccess@usdoj.gov

TAP Brochure

TAP Functions

DOJ Serves as the CJIS Systems Agency (CSA) for Selected Federally Recognized Tribes

DOJ assumes responsibility for granting network access, extending the model used by federal agencies to Tribes. DOJ ensures personnel, IT, and physical security; vetting and on-boarding; testing; training; and auditing.

DOJ Provides Two Solutions: TAP-LIGHT and TAP-FULL

TAP-LIGHT provides agencies with the ability to conduct name-based record checks and enter person and property information, while TAP-FULL also provides the additional hardware necessary to conduct fingerprint-based criminal and non-criminal justice transactions.

DOJ Provides Enhanced Training and Assistance

TAP provides online and on-site training and assists Tribes in analyzing needs and identifying/providing appropriate solutions to maximize the value of national crime information.

Implementation

Tribes may use TAP for all purposes authorized by federal law.

The criminal justice agencies eligible to participate in TAP are:

  • Law Enforcement Agencies
  • Prosecutor's Offices
  • Corrections and Detention
  • Criminal Courts
  • Pretrial Services
  • Probation and Parole

The non-criminal justice agencies eligible to participate in TAP are:

  • Agencies with Sex Offender Registration responsibilities
  • Agencies whose staff/volunteers have contact with or control over Indian children
  • Public Housing
  • Child Support Enforcement
  • Head Start
  • Agencies investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of children
  • Civil Courts issuing orders of protection, injunctions, restraining orders, or other keep away orders

TAP helps Tribes as they protect their communities in a variety of ways. Among other things, Tribes can:

  • Enter orders of protection making them accessible for enforcement both on and off Tribal land
  • Register sex offenders in compliance with the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
  • Enter information to prevent illegal gun purchases
  • Enter arrest warrants for on and off reservation awareness and enforcement
  • Perform record checks on employees and volunteers who have contact with or control over Indian children
  • Perform record checks of housing applicants and tenants
  • Document arrest and conviction data
  • Access investigative records of other law enforcement agencies
  • Locate absent parents to enforce child support orders
  • Search for and enter information about persons and property
  • Conduct name-based criminal history checks to determine if supervised individuals have new charges
  • Obtain complete criminal histories to make release recommendations in criminal court cases