Which agency is primarily responsible for criminal justice data in Texas?

The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is the primary agency responsible for criminal justice data in Texas. This agency oversees vital functions related to law enforcement, including the collection, management, and dissemination of criminal data and information. The Texas DPS operates the state law enforcement agencies, including the Texas Highway Patrol and the Texas Rangers, which are crucial for state-level criminal investigations. Additionally, the DPS manages databases such as the Texas Crime Information Center (TCIC) and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC), ensuring that data related to criminal activities across the state is accurate and accessible to law enforcement agencies.

Other options, while involved in law enforcement, do not have the overarching responsibility for managing statewide criminal justice data. The Houston Police Department, for example, focuses on local law enforcement and specific city-related incidents rather than statewide data. The FBI operates at a national level and is concerned with federal crimes, but it does not manage the state-specific criminal justice data in Texas. Similarly, the Texas Rangers, while a division of the Texas DPS, serve primarily as an investigative agency rather than as a data management authority.