March 22, 1996
Volume 1, Number 2
Introduction
The FBI has received numerous questions on the use of fingerprint images with NCIC 2000 files. NCIC users at regional working groups and the Advisory Policy Board (APB) have expressed concern over the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) decision to develop software and hardware for two different fingerprint matching capabilities. One is to be used for the NCIC 2000 system and the other is to be used for the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS). This issue will address these questions and concerns. Additionally, this issue provides information concerning fingerprint images and files and the requirements for the NCIC 2000 fingerprint scanner.
Questions and Answers
Q: Why did NCIC 2000 include fingerprint matching functions?
A: In response to the APB direction, the FBI is developing an NCIC 2000 system that will provide law enforcement with enhanced and expanded NCIC information. In order to improve the identification of individuals who present no identification or are suspected of presenting fraudulent identification, the APB voted to include a single fingerprint matching capability in the NCIC 2000 system. This matching capability has an exceptionally low error rate requirement and will provide the law officer with online, instantaneous and accurate identification of individuals who are currently listed in the wanted, convicted, missing and unidentified persons files.
Q: How does NCIC 2000 use these fingerprint image inquiries?
A: The NCIC 2000 fingerprint matching system will allow input of a live-scanned single right index fingerprint at a booking station or from a squad car. A rolled ink single index print may also be scanned and entered from a personal computer workstation device. The system captures the print image, extracts the minutiae and other important topological data and compacts the image data. It then sends all of that information to the NCIC 2000 to determine if a match can be made.
Q: What are the system design constraints?
A: In many systems, the mobile channel will have a low capacity and must be shared with many users. Therefore, the radio transmission must be very fast over the channel.
Q: What does all that mean?
A: NCIC 2000 captures the minimal data needed by the matcher (i.e., minutiae and ridge contour data). The data is then compacted and transported over the mobile radio bandwidths in a minimal amount of time. Compression routines, such as WSQ and JPEG, create compressed images that are too large to transmit in reasonable time frames.
Q: But doesn't IAFIS use WSQ standards for fingerprints?
A: Yes. However, IAFIS does not have the design constraint of radio transmission. As mentioned above, WSQ compressed images are too large to send over a radio channel in a short period of time.
Q: Based on a fingerprint search, can we get criminal history records through NCIC 2000?
A: No. NCIC 2000 was never intended or designed to be an IAFIS conduit. NCIC 2000 provides quick responses for inquiries into a much smaller database than IAFIS.
Q: Summary criminal history is important to us. Can NCIC 2000 be redesigned to allow for fingerprint based criminal history inquiries?
A: The two systems fingerprint files are not compatible. Furthermore, even if they were compatible, IAFIS only supports single digit search capabilities as latent submissions.
Applicable NCIC Files
Like the current NCIC system, NCIC 2000 will maintain many files that are necessary for agencies and officers to perform their vital functions. Not all records maintained by NCIC 2000 will have an associated fingerprint image. Some files are not specific to a particular person and some person files may not have had a fingerprint image available when entered into the computer. The following is a table of those files that may associate a fingerprint image with the data record.
| File Name | Description |
| Wanted Persons: | This file contains information about outstanding federal warrants, serious misdemeanor or felony warrants, and probation and parole violators for serious misdemeanors or felonies. |
| Convicted Person on Supervised Release: | This file will contain information about people who are currently on parole or on supervised mandatory release from a correctional facility. |
| Missing Person: | This file contains information about people who are missing that are disabled, juvenile, victims of catastrophe, subjects whose disappearance appears to be involuntary, and subjects whose disappearance indicates that their personal safety is in jeopardy. |
| Unidentified Person: | This file contains information about unidentified deceased persons, persons who are living and unable to ascertain their identities, unidentified catastrophe victims, and body parts when a body has been dismembered. |
Equipment Needs
The NCIC 2000 Fingerprint Matching System is composed of the following equipment and software:
Printrak fingerprint matching array processors and software attached to the NCIC 2000 host;
Two Digital Biometrics, Incorporated, live-scan devices. One is designed specifically for the Workstation (a personal computer at a booking station), and another, more compact scanner for the squad car's Mobile Image Unit (MIU);
A Tamarack scanner for rolled ink prints and other identifying images attached to a workstation personal computer, and;
Minutiae extraction and image processing software that may be loaded into the personal computer as part of the user application software suite, or, if so desired, be provided as firmware on a personal computer specialized board (the IPScard).
It is the FBI's intent to provide federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies with the greatest degree of flexibility in implementing the NCIC 2000 fingerprint matching capability. For example, the FBI will offer all specially developed software free of charge to NCIC 2000 users. Local agencies must insure their use of these capabilities is consistent with their state systems. The fingerprint matching equipment listed above has been specifically and uniquely designed for the NCIC 2000 system. The FBI recognizes that vendor competition leads to technological advancements. However, in order to ensure and maintain the quality and integrity of the NCIC 2000 system, the FBI will require agencies to obtain vendor and manufacturer certification that their hardware meets or exceeds all NCIC 2000 requirements prior to purchase and implementation. To help you, as well as give you some early insight, the following is a list of the NCIC 2000 scanner device requirements:
The minimum area size for a single fingerprint must be .88" horizontally and 1.2" vertically. The maximum area size for a single fingerprint must be 1.6" horizontally and 1.5" vertically.
The spatial sampling frequency should be at least 500 pixels per inch.
The minimum image dimensions must be at least 440 pixels horizontally by 600 pixels vertically by 8-bits per pixel gray-scale.
The scanner must provide adequate quality such that minutiae may be extracted reliably from the images or the flat live-scan fingerprint image may be visually compared to a conventionally obtained (i.e., inked) fingerprint image.
The scanner must provide a diagnostic procedure that allows periodic checks by non-technical personnel to determine if the scanner is in compliance with their specifications and that is either fully automated or incorporated within the scanner control logic to be performed at discretion of the operator.
Conclusion
Compared to the overall advancements in the automation industry, computer fingerprint matching and other identifying image capabilities are relatively new technologies. Today's improvements in equipment hardware, storage devices and increased speeds of computer processors have significantly advanced the practical application of image technology. Of the most benefit is the application of this technology to law enforcement. Even though national crime statistics are showing downward trends, the "bad guys" that are out there are more mobile and dangerous. The FBI is committed to improving its services and will continue to enhance its automation capabilities to support law enforcement. Harris, for example, is working with the FBI in developing a logistics and business management plan that will identify continued improvements to the type of NCIC 2000 products and capabilities offered for the immediate and future life cycle of the system. The FBI intends to make this plan available to and solicit input and comments from all system users before the end of 1996.
Harris, on its own, has already begun exploring new avenues of improvement. For example, Harris has demonstrated a still-frame camera that can capture and hold up to 37 images. This device is small enough to be carried in a pocket and hooked to a belt. The camera's captured images may be downloaded to the NCIC 2000 software application suite at a booking station, for example, via a common coupling device hooked to the personal computer's RS 232 port. The camera also utilizes the J-PEG image compression standard. This camera device has not been incorporated in the FBI-Harris NCIC 2000 contract, but represents the kind of potential improvements and flexibility in the system's capabilities that the FBI is hoping for.
This space is provided for authorized criminal justice agencies to provide commentary, questions, or suggestions. We will provide an answer to all questions. If you would like to submit an article, send it to:
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Attn: Ms. Katina Mackall
Room 9504
NCIC 2000 Program Office
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20535
