---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 20961"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "20961"
heading: "Access to national crime information databases"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/20961"
units:
  - "Subtitle II — Protection of Children and Other Persons"
  - "Chapter 209 — Child Protection and Safety"
  - "Subchapter I — Sex Offender Registration and Notification"
  - "Part C — Access to Information and Resources Needed To Ensure That Children Are Not Attacked or Abused"
---

# §20961. Access to national crime information databases

- (a) **In general—** Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Attorney General shall ensure access to the national crime information databases (as defined in [section 534 of title 28](/usc/28/534.md)) by—
  - (1) the National [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) for Missing and Exploited Children, to be used only within the scope of the [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1)’s duties and responsibilities under Federal law to assist or support [law enforcement](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1) agencies in administration of criminal justice functions; and
  - (2) governmental social service agencies with child protection responsibilities, to be used by such agencies only in investigating or responding to reports of child [abuse](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1), [neglect](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1), or [exploitation](/usc/34/21701.md?p=1).
- (b) **Conditions of access—** The access provided under this section, and associated rules of dissemination, shall be—
  - (1) defined by the Attorney General; and
  - (2) limited to personnel of the [Center](/usc/34/21502.md?p=1) or such agencies that have met all requirements set by the Attorney General, including training, certification, and background screening.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 109–248, title I, § 151, July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 608.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 16961 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.