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IDENT.P01
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1991-08-14
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July 1991
IDENTIFICATION: A MOVE TOWARD THE FUTURE
By
Bruce J. Brotman
Special Agent and Section Chief
Automation, Research and Development Section
FBI Identification Division
and
Rhonda K. Pavel
Computer Systems Analyst
Automation, Research and Development Section
FBI Identification Division
No one in law enforcement today could deny that the years
ahead will bring many changes and challenges to the profession.
Witness the transformation that has already taken place with
regard to economics, demographics, politics, and technology.
Each of these factors has already had major implications for law
enforcement. And there is every reason to believe their impact
will continue to have a profound effect.
Current trends and developments indicate that in the years
to come, fingerprint identification will play a much wider role
in law enforcement. This is why the FBI's Identification
Division is pursuing a strategic plan to rebuild and improve
essential services for its criminal justice users. By 1995,
the FBI will have in operation a new system providing greatly
expanded fingerprint identification services that will provide
immeasurable benefits to law enforcement and other users
nationwide.
AUTOMATED FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION--AN EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY
In the early 1960s, the FBI realized that the future of its
Identification Division would be closely tied to its ability to
incorporate automated technology into fingerprint processing
operations. The subsequent research and development (R&D)
initiatives of the Identification Division produced some of the
first steps toward fingerprint automation.
During the ensuing years, commercial companies ventured
into the field of fingerprint automation. Fingerprint
identification technology flourished and grew more
sophisticated. Several manufacturers developed automated
fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) integrating automated
10-print and latent processing capabilities into one system. By
the 1990s, these and other companies introduced the concept of
"live-scan technology," a revolutionary new process requiring
neither inked cards nor chemicals.
Many of the Identification Division's contributors
capitalized on these emerging technologies to initiate their own
automation projects and acquired their own AFISs. However, the
simple expansion of automated capabilities did not provide a
cure-all for the problems that have traditionally plagued
criminal identification efforts.
While these technological improvements afford law
enforcement with newer, more advanced tools for performing their
jobs, the ability to execute fast and efficient nationwide
criminal searches remains deficient. Primarily, there are no
guiding standards to ensure compatibility among dissimilar AFISs
manufactured by competing commercial vendors. And although many
States have automated systems, their inability to communicate
with incompatible AFISs severely limits their effectiveness.
Factors Precipitating Improvements
The Identification Division realized the need for a
more cohesive system to link local, State, and Federal law
enforcement agencies. Subsequently, division personnel began to
examine their own operations to identify those areas that needed
to be upgraded.
When first implemented, the technological developments
pioneered by the Identification Division were state-of-the-art.
However, in the intervening years, the industry made great
strides toward producing equipment that was even more responsive
to the specialized needs of the law enforcement community. But,
unfortunately, the division was not able to obtain these latest
technological innovations. Therefore, the acquisition of new
hardware with improved capabilities emerged as a major factor in
the division's strategic planning.
In addition, enacted legislation also influenced the
division's long-range planning efforts. Pursuant to the
Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988, the Attorney General mandated the
FBI to ensure that the data in its automated systems were
complete, accurate, and immediately available in order to
identify felons who attempt to purchase firearms. Also, the
Airports Security Act and recently enacted banking laws required
screening of applicants for criminal histories. Implementation
of these capabilities impacted considerably on the FBI's already
overburdened automated system.
Methodology for Achieving Improvements
In June 1989, the FBI took steps to improve its essential
identification services to its users by enlisting the assistance
of the NCIC Advisory Policy Board (APB) to review the
Identification Division's strategies and plans for automation
and to make recommendations. Together, the Identification
Division and the Identification Services Subcommittee of the
NCIC APB produced a conceptual road map for "revitalization" of
the division.
Essentially, the plan reflects a partnership between
Federal, State, and local law enforcement to ensure that the
Identification Division will be in a position to meet the
increasing needs of its users into the 21st century. It focuses
on the development and implementation of a complete Integrated
Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). The basis
of this new national concept is an on-line image transmission
network that interfaces law enforcement agencies nationwide.
Besides updating processes and technology, the greatest
benefit would be accrued by relocating the division. Primarily,
it would not be possible to install new technology in the
Identification Division's current facilities at FBI
Headquarters, while simultaneously maintaining current
operations. Therefore, the total plan for improvements has
become one of revitalization and relocation.
To this end, the FBI conducted a relocation study, which
led to the selection of a site in Clarksburg, West Virginia, as
the location for a new facility to house IAFIS equipment and
operations. The design for the planned, multilevel building
allows for the entire division to be housed within one location.
More importantly, however, it will provide for the required
expandability and flexibility to accommodate the new IAFIS.
IAFIS: THE INTEGRATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND CAPABILITIES
The envisioned future system of the Identification Division
is the IAFIS, which will be developed using as its main premise
the electronic or "paperless" submission of fingerprint cards
and related documents. Basically, the system allows a suspect
to be fingerprinted at the booking station using live-scan
technology, thereby eliminating fingerprint cards and documents
at every step of the process. Then, the fingerprint images and
personal data will be processed by a local AFIS and
electronically transmitted to a State identification bureau for
processing. If no identification is made, the data will be
forwarded to the FBI's Identification Division. There, it will
be processed by a highly advanced AFIS, allowing for an
electronic response to the booking station within hours.
The IAFIS will be developed using integrated architecture,
modular design, and integrated implementation. Primarily,
implementation of IAFIS will involve the integration of three
new automation efforts:
* An Image Transmission Network (ITN) for paperless
fingerprint submission and processing,
* Acquisition of a new advanced AFIS, and
* An upgraded Interstate Identification Index (III).
The Image Transmission Network
The Image