NCJ Number
177462
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 26 Issue: 4 Dated: April 1999 Pages: 77-81
Date Published
1999
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article explains the technology and benefits of live- scan fingerprinting as a means of securing and checking fingerprints for background investigations and suspect processing.
Abstract
Nationwide, smaller law enforcement agencies have found that they receive much faster response times from Automated Fingerprint identification Systems (AFIS's) when they use live- scan equipment that is connected to the AFIS. California uses such a system to fingerprint applicants for school employment in background checks, as is required under State law. The use of live-scan stations allows fingerprints and demographic information to be electronically captured (without ink), stored, and transmitted in minutes. The increase of applicant fingerprinting is among the many reasons the use of tenprint live-scan stations is increasing nationwide. In order to reap the benefits of real-time automated identification, however, fingerprints and data must be in an acceptable format. Built-in quality-control software helps reduce human errors. Because there is no ink, there is no smearing. If a mistake is made, a print can be retaken until one high-quality record is obtained. There is no need to print a person again for local, State, and Federal agencies, because the live-scan can make copies. Higher quality fingerprints mean a higher likelihood of the AFIS finding a match in its database without human verification. One of the additional benefits of live-scan technology is the improvement in the quality of the text information.