NCJ Number
124489
Journal
FOP Journal Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1990) Pages: 38-39
Date Published
1990
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Several kinds of technological advances have aided the use of fingerprints as a method of identifying crime suspects.
Abstract
The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) developed by DeLaRue Pintrak of California is the most commonly used system. Its database contains 160,000 ten-print files, 322 latent records, and 1,600,000 additional fingerprint records. If a fingerprint from a suspect matches one in the system, police receive the suspect's name, general description, and other information within minutes. The National Bureau of Standards is developing a national AFIS. Other technological advances include the use of faxes to transmit fingerprints to an identification unit; the use of inkless, plain paper methods of taking prints; improvements in methods of locating and developing latent fingerprints at the crime scene; and the use of electronic fingerprinting equipment to scan live fingerprints. In addition, the FBI is using a computer program known as the Latent Descriptor Index, which contains more than 16 million individuals, along with the AFIS. Photograph and drawing.