The News Room [News Release]
Sheriff Contact: John Roach: 313-224-0615
Release Date: Monday, April 25, 2005
Sheriff fixes lengthy CCW permit process
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Average wait for clearance to carry weapon cut from 9 months to eight weeks |
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Digital fingerprinting soon will remove weeks more from the process |
Wayne County residents trying to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon for personal protection no longer have to wait nine months to a year to receive their approval and instead can expect their permit in as little as 45 days thanks to a revamped process, Sheriff Warren Evans said today. Even better, he says, new technology soon will cut the wait even more.
Since Michigan's CCW permit law was changed in 2001, the county has processed an average of 4,500 applications per year, including renewals. Just over a year ago, the Sheriff's Office faced a backlog of more than 3,000 permits and increasing frustration from residents who wanted to legally carry a gun. An average wait for applicants at the time was about nine months and many waited more than a year for their approval, Evans said.
"When we started reviewing the CCW process, we had a standard six-month wait just for applicants to come in and have their fingerprints taken," Evans said. Though he acknowledges that two big reasons for the lengthy wait were county budget cuts to his CCW staff and "a wave of hundreds of permit renewals that all came due at the same time," Evans, a handgun owner himself, found the nearly yearlong wait for a permit unacceptable.
To deal with the issue, officers at the Sheriff's Road Patrol Office stepped up by identifying problem areas and taking on additional responsibilities. Evans also enlisted the services of his reserve officers, several of who have volunteered their time week after week to help process applications.
"This was a great example of sworn officers and volunteer reserves working side-by-side to solve a problem," Evans said. "I am very proud of both groups of officers for their hard work jump starting this process."
Between February and March, for example, the department processed and forwarded more than 3,700 permits to the County Clerk's office, which has been quickly submitting them to the gun board. Under state law, county gun boards have 45 days to approve or deny applications.
With the backlog now eliminated, the average wait for a gun owner has been reduced to approximately eight weeks, with many receiving their permits sooner. An average wait in other local counties is about the same, Evans said.
Digital prints to further speed up process
Today, applicants usually can come in to be fingerprinted with only one day's notice. Deputies then forward the prints to the Michigan State Police for a criminal background check, a process that takes anywhere from 10 days to one month.
As early as next month, Evans said, his officers will begin taking fingerprints digitally and submitting them electronically to the state police. When that occurs, the sheriff's office can receive clearance in as little as ten minutes, then check the individual for outstanding warrants and send a letter to the clerk recommending approval, both very short processes.
"Conceivably, a process that recently took nine months to a year will be able to take place within one or two days," Evans said. "Once the clearances are done, the only wait will be with the gun board, which has been moving things along very well itself."
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| CCW Permit Process Steps |
Pre-Application Steps
- Pick up and fill out a CCW permit application, available at any police department, sheriff's office or county clerk's office
- Take and complete gun safety training class
Application Steps
- Bring completed application to County Clerk's Office
a. Have two passport-size photos with you
b. Pay $105 application fee
c. Provide certificate from completed gun safety training class
d. Receive Control #
- Arrange to have fingerprints taken at Sheriff's Road Patrol Office
a. Wait is a short as one day, but please call first
b. Provide deputy with Control # issued by Clerk's office
Post-Application Steps
- Sheriff's staff forwards fingerprints to State Police
a. 1-2 days
- State Police criminal history check
a. Results sent back to Sheriff's Office within 10-30 days
b. Soon to be reduced to one day
- After MSP clearance, Sheriff' Office checks for outstanding warrants
a. 1-2 days
- Sheriff's Office sends letter to Clerk recommending approval or rejection
a. 1-2 days
- Clerk forwards application to County Gun Board
a. 7-10 days
- Gun board approves or denies permit at next scheduled monthly meeting
a. 30-45 days
Minimum/maximum wait from time application is submitted: Approximately 45/90 days. |
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