1. U.S. Code
  2. title 6
  3. chapter 1
  4. subchapter II
  5. part C
  6. § 163

Collapse to view only § 163. Definition of law enforcement technology

§ 161. Establishment of Office; Director
(a) Establishment
(1) In general
(2) Authority
(b) Director
(Pub. L. 107–296, title II, § 231, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2159.)

CITE AS: 6 USC 161

§ 162. Mission of Office; duties
(a) MissionThe mission of the Office shall be—
(1) to serve as the national focal point for work on law enforcement technology; and
(2) to carry out programs that, through the provision of equipment, training, and technical assistance, improve the safety and effectiveness of law enforcement technology and improve access to such technology by Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.
(b) DutiesIn carrying out its mission, the Office shall have the following duties:
(1) To provide recommendations and advice to the Attorney General.
(2) To establish and maintain advisory groups (which shall be exempt from the provisions of chapter 10 of title 5) to assess the law enforcement technology needs of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.
(3) To establish and maintain performance standards in accordance with the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (Public Law 104–113) for, and test and evaluate law enforcement technologies that may be used by, Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.
(4) To establish and maintain a program to certify, validate, and mark or otherwise recognize law enforcement technology products that conform to standards established and maintained by the Office in accordance with the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (Public Law 104–113). The program may, at the discretion of the Office, allow for supplier’s declaration of conformity with such standards.
(5) To work with other entities within the Department of Justice, other Federal agencies, and the executive office of the President to establish a coordinated Federal approach on issues related to law enforcement technology.
(6) To carry out research, development, testing, evaluation, and cost-benefit analyses in fields that would improve the safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of law enforcement technologies used by Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies, including, but not limited to—
(A) weapons capable of preventing use by unauthorized persons, including personalized guns;
(B) protective apparel;
(C) bullet-resistant and explosion-resistant glass;
(D) monitoring systems and alarm systems capable of providing precise location information;
(E) wire and wireless interoperable communication technologies;
(F) tools and techniques that facilitate investigative and forensic work, including computer forensics;
(G) equipment for particular use in counterterrorism, including devices and technologies to disable terrorist devices;
(H) guides to assist State and local law enforcement agencies;
(I) DNA identification technologies; and
(J) tools and techniques that facilitate investigations of computer crime.
(7) To administer a program of research, development, testing, and demonstration to improve the interoperability of voice and data public safety communications.
(8) To serve on the Technical Support Working Group of the Department of Defense, and on other relevant interagency panels, as requested.
(9) To develop, and disseminate to State and local law enforcement agencies, technical assistance and training materials for law enforcement personnel, including prosecutors.
(10) To operate the regional National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Centers and, to the extent necessary, establish additional centers through a competitive process.
(11) To administer a program of acquisition, research, development, and dissemination of advanced investigative analysis and forensic tools to assist State and local law enforcement agencies in combating cybercrime.
(12) To support research fellowships in support of its mission.
(13) To serve as a clearinghouse for information on law enforcement technologies.
(14) To represent the United States and State and local law enforcement agencies, as requested, in international activities concerning law enforcement technology.
(15) To enter into contracts and cooperative agreements and provide grants, which may require in-kind or cash matches from the recipient, as necessary to carry out its mission.
(16) To carry out other duties assigned by the Attorney General to accomplish the mission of the Office.
(c) Competition required
(d) Information from Federal agencies
(e) Publications
(f) Transfer of funds
(g) Annual reportThe Director of the Office shall include with the budget justification materials submitted to Congress in support of the Department of Justice budget for each fiscal year (as submitted with the budget of the President under section 1105(a) of title 31) a report on the activities of the Office. Each such report shall include the following:
(1) For the period of 5 fiscal years beginning with the fiscal year for which the budget is submitted—
(A) the Director’s assessment of the needs of Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies for assistance with respect to law enforcement technology and other matters consistent with the mission of the Office; and
(B) a strategic plan for meeting such needs of such law enforcement agencies.
(2) For the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which such budget is submitted, a description of the activities carried out by the Office and an evaluation of the extent to which those activities successfully meet the needs assessed under paragraph (1)(A) in previous reports.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title II, § 232, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2159; Pub. L. 108–7, div. L, § 103(1), Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 529; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(13), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4306.)

CITE AS: 6 USC 162

§ 163. Definition of law enforcement technology

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term “law enforcement technology” includes investigative and forensic technologies, corrections technologies, and technologies that support the judicial process.

(Pub. L. 107–296, title II, § 233, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2161.)

CITE AS: 6 USC 163

§ 164. Abolishment of Office of Science and Technology of National Institute of Justice; transfer of functions
(a) Authority to transfer functions
(b) Transfer of personnel and assets
(c) Report on implementation
Not later than 1 year after November 25, 2002, the Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this subchapter. The report shall—
(1) provide an accounting of the amounts and sources of funding available to the Office to carry out its mission under existing authorizations and appropriations, and set forth the future funding needs of the Office; and
(2) include such other information and recommendations as the Attorney General considers appropriate.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title II, § 234, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2161; Pub. L. 108–7, div. L, § 103(2), Feb. 20, 2003, 117 Stat. 529.)

CITE AS: 6 USC 164

§ 165. National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Centers
(a) In general
(b) Purpose of Centers
The purpose of the Centers shall be to—
(1) support research and development of law enforcement technology;
(2) support the transfer and implementation of technology;
(3) assist in the development and dissemination of guidelines and technological standards; and
(4) provide technology assistance, information, and support for law enforcement, corrections, and criminal justice purposes.
(c) Annual meeting
(d) Report
(Pub. L. 107–296, title II, § 235, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2162.)

CITE AS: 6 USC 165