Beth Worthy
1/14/2026
Handling criminal justice data comes with a level of responsibility that goes far beyond routine information security. In the United States, the CJIS Security Policy formally defines responsibility, a policy framework created to safeguard some of the most sensitive data handled by government agencies and their partners.
This article serves as an explanatory resource, not a legal interpretation or compliance checklist. Its purpose is to clarify what the CJIS Security Policy is, why it exists, who it applies to, and how it functions within the broader criminal justice and information security ecosystem.
Before diving deeper, it helps to start with the basics.
CJIS stands for Criminal Justice Information Services, a division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI CJIS Division manages systems and services that enable the secure exchange of criminal justice information across federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies.
The CJIS Security Policy exists because criminal justice information (CJI) is uniquely sensitive. It includes data that can affect individual privacy, due process, public safety, and ongoing investigations. Without standardized security controls, the sharing of this information across agencies, and increasingly, across external service providers, would introduce unacceptable risk.
At its core, the CJIS Security Policy is a mandatory security framework that protects Criminal Justice Information throughout its lifecycle.
The policy establishes minimum security requirements for any system, organization, or individual that creates, accesses, processes, stores, or transmits CJI. Its primary goal is to ensure that criminal justice data remains confidential, accurate, and available only to authorized parties.
It is important to understand what the policy is not. CJIS is neither a certification nor a voluntary best-practice framework. Organizations do not become “CJIS certified” in the way they might achieve ISO or SOC credentials. Instead, compliance is determined through audits, oversight, and contractual obligations tied to authorized access to CJI.
As defined in the policy itself, the CJIS Security Policy establishes baseline security controls and promotes secure information sharing among criminal justice agencies.
The scope of the CJIS Security Policy is determined by what qualifies as Criminal Justice Information.
CJI includes, but is not limited to:
This definition matters because any entity handling this data, directly or indirectly, falls within the scope of the policy. Even limited or temporary access to CJI can trigger compliance obligations.
The CJIS Security Policy defines CJI as justice-related data requiring protection due to its legal, privacy, and operational sensitivity.
The CJIS Security Policy applies broadly and intentionally. Its reach extends beyond law enforcement agencies themselves.
First, it applies to Criminal Justice Agencies (CJAs)—organizations whose primary function involves the administration of criminal justice, such as law enforcement, courts, and corrections.
Second, it applies to Noncriminal Justice Agencies (NCJAs) that are authorized to access CJI for specific purposes, such as background checks or regulatory functions.
Finally, and increasingly important, the policy applies to service providers, vendors, contractors, and partners that handle CJI on behalf of authorized agencies. This includes technology providers, data processors, transcription services, cloud platforms, and other third parties.
Any entity that creates, stores, processes, or transmits CJI for an authorized agency is subject to CJIS requirements.
Oversight of the CJIS Security Policy is not centralized in a single office; it operates through a shared governance model.
The FBI CJIS Division is responsible for developing, maintaining, and updating the policy. Operational realities, emerging threats, and collaboration with participating agencies inform changes to the policy.
The CJIS Advisory Policy Board (APB) provides structured input from state and local agencies, ensuring that the policy reflects real-world implementation challenges.
At the state level, CJIS Systems Agencies (CSAs) oversee compliance within their jurisdictions. They coordinate audits, manage access, and ensure that both agencies and their partners adhere to the policy.
Compliance is evaluated through CJIS audits, conducted by designated audit units, which assess whether systems and processes meet the required security controls.
Enforcement of the CJIS Security Policy is carried out through a coordinated structure involving State CJIS Systems Agencies and audit units, each with distinct responsibilities in oversight and compliance verification.
CJIS compliance is operational, not theoretical. Agencies are responsible for implementing and maintaining the policy’s minimum security requirements across their systems and workflows.
These requirements cover technical, administrative, and physical safeguards. While agencies retain overall accountability, compliance is often a shared responsibility when external partners are involved.
If a vendor processes CJI, the agency remains responsible for ensuring that the vendor’s systems, personnel, and procedures align with CJIS requirements. This shared responsibility model is why contractual clarity and due diligence are essential in CJIS-regulated environments.
The policy establishes baseline controls, including authentication, access control, encryption, auditing, and monitoring, for all systems that handle CJI.
While the policy itself is extensive, several core control areas form its foundation.
Access control and authentication ensure that only authorized individuals can access CJI and that identities are verified through strong authentication mechanisms.
Encryption and communications protection safeguard CJI during transmission and, where required, at rest, reducing the risk of interception or unauthorized disclosure.
Auditing and accountability requirements ensure that access to CJI is logged, monitored, and reviewable, supporting both security oversight and incident investigation.
Incident response provisions require agencies and partners to detect, report, and respond to security incidents involving CJI in a timely and structured manner.
Each of these components is defined in detail within the CJIS Security Policy and is mandatory for systems handling CJI.
CJIS is often compared to frameworks such as SOC 2 or ISO/IEC 27001, but the differences are significant. SOC 2 and ISO/IEC 27001 are voluntary frameworks that organizations adopt to demonstrate security maturity through independent audits or certification.
CJIS, by contrast, is a government-mandated policy. Its controls are not optional, and compliance is a condition of access to criminal justice information.
While there may be overlap in control categories, such as access management or incident response, CJIS requirements are prescriptive and legally tied to criminal justice operations. Private certifications do not replace CJIS compliance.
Misunderstanding CJIS creates real risk. For agencies, gaps in understanding can lead to compliance failures, audit findings, or loss of access to critical systems. For vendors and partners, misunderstanding the policy can result in contractual breaches or disqualification from criminal justice work.
Understanding CJIS supports:
The policy’s intent is explicit: protect Criminal Justice Information throughout its lifecycle and across all entities that touch it.
The CJIS Security Policy is a foundational framework for protecting criminal justice data in the United States. It defines how CJI must be secured, who is responsible for that security, and how compliance is maintained across agencies and partners. It is not a certification, a guideline, or a suggestion. It is a mandatory policy tied directly to the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Understanding CJIS is essential for any organization that works with criminal justice agencies, supports their systems, or handles their data, whether directly or indirectly.
At its core, the policy exists to ensure that sensitive justice information is protected consistently, responsibly, and with the seriousness it demands.
For organizations handling sensitive audio or documentation that may contain criminal justice information, partnering with a trusted provider ensures confidentiality, accuracy, and compliance. Learn more about secure transcription solutions at GMR Transcription.