NCJ Number
79052
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 50 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1981) Pages: 2-6
Date Published
1981
Length
5 pages
Annotation
The development, operation, and impact of California's Automated Latent Print System (ALPS) are discussed.
Abstract
In the past, latent fingerprints have been considered practically worthless without known suspects to identify or eliminate, since the California Department of Justice's (DOJ) file of about 6 million fingerprint cards makes a manual search impossible. Now, ALPS makes possible the matching of latent fingerprints with unknown suspects through an electronic mass scan of subject (data base) fingerprints. Following a successful pilot program involving nine 'core' counties, the DOJ purchased a data bank that has a maximum data base capability of 500,000 10-print sets, a number deemed to provide a significantly representative segment of the active criminal population in the State. Since the success of ALPS will depend largely on the quality of the data base, criteria governing both eligibility and purging procedures have been developed. Participating agencies are encouraged to submit latent prints from felony cases. To qualify for an ALPS search, a latent print must be of a quality surpassing that required for a manual identification (must contain at least 12 points of minutiae). The agency mails a life-size photograph of the prints for submission to ALPS. A transmittal form is completed to provide information important to the analyst in processing the case. Minutiae from the fingerprints are coded and entered into the system by latent analysts. In a matter of minutes, the system compares relative positioning of the characteristics of the latent print and other search factors to the data base fingerprints and produces a candidate list in rank order of probable matches. An analyst then compares the hard copy arrest prints of top candidates on the list with the latent prints. In the 1 year of its operation, ALPS has contributed to the solution of over 70 felony cases which would not have been solved otherwise.