DoD Directives
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Department of Defense |
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DIRECTIVE |
NUMBER 1304.23
February 15, 1984
Incorporating Change 1, November 16, 1994
ASD(MI&L)
SUBJECT: Acquisition and Use of Criminal History Record Information by the Military Services
References: (a) Title 10, United States Code, Sections 503, 504, 505, and 520a
(b) DoD Directive 5200.2, "DoD Personnel Security Program," December 20, 1979
(c) DoD 5200.2-R, "DoD Personnel Security Program," December 1979
1. PURPOSE
Under reference (a), this Directive establishes policy guidance concerning the acquisition of criminal history record information for use in determining an enlistment applicant's suitability for entry and for participation in special programs that require a determination of trustworthiness (reference (b)), assigns responsibilities, and prescribes procedures.
2. APPLICABILITY
This Directive applies to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Military Departments, and the Defense Investigative Service (DIS). The term "Military Services," as used herein, refers to the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps.
3. DEFINITIONS
3.1. Criminal History Record Information (with respect to any juvenile or adult arrest, citation, or conviction). The offense involved; age of the person involved; dates of arrest, citation, or conviction, if any; place of the alleged offense; place of arrest and assigned court; and disposition of the case.
3.2. Criminal Justice System. State, county, and local government law enforcement agencies; courts and clerks of courts; and other Government Agencies authorized to collect, maintain, and disseminate criminal history record information.
3.3. Special Programs. Military Services programs that, because of their sensitivity or access to classified information, require the DIS to perform the investigations specified in Chapter 3 of reference (c).
4. POLICY
Section 503 of title 10, United States Code (reference (a)), requires the Secretaries of the Military Departments to conduct intensive recruiting campaigns to obtain enlistments. It is the policy of the Department of Defense that the Military Services review the background of applicants for enlistment and for participation in special programs to identify:
4.1. Those whose backgrounds pose serious questions as to fitness for service (10 U.S.C. 504 and 505, reference (a)) or suitability for participation in special programs (DoD Directive 5200.2, reference (b)).
4.2. Those who may not be enlisted in the Military Services unless a waiver is granted (section 504 of reference (a)).
4.3. Those who may try to enlist fraudulently.
5. RESPONSIBILITIES
5.1. The Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower, Installations, and Logistics) shall submit the implementing Military Service regulations to the Senate and House Committees on Armed Services, in accordance with section 520a of reference (a), after review to ensure reasonable uniformity.
5.2. The Secretaries of the Military Departments shall develop and prepare uniform implementing regulations concerning acquisition, review, and safeguarding of criminal history record information by recruiting elements to conform with section 520a of reference (a) policies stated herein and shall include in the regulations procedures on obtaining and reviewing criminal history record information for recruitment purposes and for assignment of personnel to special programs.
5.3. The Director, Defense Investigative Service, shall ensure that the acquisition of all available criminal history record information, or criminal history record information provided to the DIS by other Government Agencies, is safeguarded in accordance with existing laws or DoD regulatory documents to ensure protection of the privacy of the enlistment applicant on whom the record exists.
6. PROCEDURES
6.1. Under section 520a of reference (a), recruiters are authorized to request and receive criminal history record information from the criminal justice system.
6.2. The Military Services shall obtain criminal history record information on enlistment applicants from the criminal justice system and from the DIS and shall review this information to determine whether applicants are acceptable for enlistment and for assignment to special programs. Recruiters shall request such information in each instance by addressing their requests to the criminal justice system not later than 90 days after each application for enlistment is made.
6.3. The Military Services shall ensure the confidentiality of criminal history record information obtained for recruiting purposes. Personnel who have access to this information may not disclose it except for the purposes for which obtained (10 U.S.C. 520a, reference (a)).
6.4. The DIS shall provide additional background information to the Military Services as needed to determine the suitability of applicants for enlistment and for participation in special programs. This additional background information shall be provided by Entrance National Agency Checks (ENTNACs) and other investigations as directed by DoD 5200.2-R (reference (c)).
7. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Directive is effective immediately.
