The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’
National Integrated Ballistic Information Network Program

Audit Report 05-30
June 2005
Office of the Inspector General

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION Ballistic Images NIBIN Program Structure Participating State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies Participating Federal Agencies The NIBIN Network Monitoring Participating Partner Agencies Prohibition Against Entering New Firearms Data Into NIBIN The Future of the NIBIN Program Prior Audits and Evaluations FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 1. NIBIN CAPABILITY TO COMPARE BALLISTIC IMAGES ON A NATIONAL LEVEL Deploying IBIS Equipment Comparing Images Conclusion Recommendations 2. ENTERING BALLISTIC IMAGES INTO NIBIN Data Entered Into NIBIN Law Enforcement Participation in NIBIN Program Promotion Collecting and Submitting Firearms Evidence Images Correlation Process Backlogged Evidence Federal Agencies Conclusion Recommendations 3. PREVENTING ENTRY OF NEW FIREARMS DATA INTO NIBIN NIBIN Data Prohibitions Controls Established by the ATF States That Maintain Their Own Databases STATEMENT ON COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS AND REGULATIONS ACRONYMS APPENDICES: AUDIT OBJECTIVES, SCOPE, AND METHODOLOGY NIBIN PROGRAM HISTORY EXAMPLE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE ATF AND THE NIBIN PARTNER AGENCIES LIST OF NIBIN SITES AND TYPE OF EQUIPMENT DEPLOYED TO EACH SITE PROCESS USED BY THE ATF TO IDENTIFY SITES WHERE IBIS EQUIPMENT WAS DEPLOYED MAP OF NIBIN REGIONS [Not Available Electronically] DIAGRAMS OF PARTITIONS CONTAINED ON NIBIN SERVERS PROCESS FOR COLLECTING AND ENTERING EVIDENCE INTO NIBIN, COMPARING THE EVIDENCE TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL MATCHES, AND EXAMINING POTENTIAL MATCHES TO CONFIRM HITS NIBIN SUPPORT MEMORANDA DIRECTING THAT ALL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ENTER BULLETS AND CARTRIDGE CASINGS FOUND AT CRIME SCENES INTO NIBIN ATF NIBIN PROGRAM HITS OF THE WEEK HOW NIBIN SEARCHES ARE USED BY NIBIN PARTNER AGENCIES WE VISITED EXPLANATION OF “RARELY” AND “NEVER” RESPONSES FOR REGIONAL SEARCHES EXPLANATION OF “RARELY” AND “NEVER” RESPONSES FOR NATIONAL SEARCHES ATF’S RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT AUDIT REPORT OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL, AUDIT DIVISION, ANALYSIS AND SUMMARY OF ACTIONS NECESSARY TO CLOSE THE REPORT