Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)
An automated system for searching fingerprint files and transmitting fingerprint
images. AFIS computer equipment can scan fingerprint impressions (or utilize
electronically transmitted fingerprint images) and automatically extract and digitize
ridge details and other identifying characteristics in sufficient detail to enable the
computer's searching and matching components to distinguish a single fingerprint from
thousands or even millions of fingerprints previously scanned and stored in digital
form in the computer's memory. The process eliminates the manual searching of
fingerprint files and increases the speed and accuracy of ten-print processing (arrest
fingerprint cards and noncriminal justice applicant fingerprint cards). AFIS equipment
also can be used to identify individuals from "latent" (crime scene) fingerprints,
with
even fragmentary prints of single fingers in some cases. Digital fingerprint images
generated by AFIS equipment can be transmitted electronically to remote sites,
eliminating the necessity of mailing fingerprint cards and providing remote access to
AFIS fingerprint files.
Central Repository
The database (or the agency housing the database) that maintains criminal history
records on all State offenders. Records include fingerprint files and files containing
identification segments and notations of arrests and dispositions. The central
repository is generally responsible for State-level identification of arrestees, and
commonly serves as the central control terminal for contact with FBI record systems.
Inquiries from local agencies for a national record check (for criminal justice or
firearm check purposes) are routed to the FBI via the central repository. Although
usually housed in the Department of Public Safety, the central repository may be
maintained in some States by the State Police or some other State agency.
Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) or Criminal History Record Information System
A record (or the system maintaining such records) that includes individual identifiers
and describes an individual's arrests and subsequent dispositions. Criminal history
records do not include intelligence or investigative data or sociological data such as
drug use history. CHRI systems usually include information on juveniles if they are
tried as adults in criminal courts.
Most, however, do not include data describing involvement of an individual in the
juvenile justice system. All data in CHRI systems are usually backed by fingerprints
of the record subjects to provide positive identification. State legislation varies
concerning disclosure of criminal history records for noncriminal justice purposes.
Criminal Justice Information Services Advisory Policy Board (APB)
Successor to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) APB, the CJIS APB is
comprised of 30 criminal justice officials who provide policy input to guide the
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the administration of its CJIS Division. The
CJIS Division administers the NCIC, the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, the
Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), and other information
system programs determined by the FBI director to have some relationship with these
programs.
Data Quality
The extent to which criminal history records are complete, accurate and timely. In
addition, accessibility sometimes is considered a data quality factor. The key concern
in data quality is the completeness of records and the extent to which records include
dispositions as well as arrest and charge information. Other concerns include the
timeliness of data reporting to State and Federal repositories, the timeliness of data
entry by the repositories, the readability of criminal history records and the ability
to have access to the records when necessary.
Federal Firearm Licensee (FFL)
A federally licensed firearms dealer, is licensed by ATF to engage in the business of
manufacturing, importing, or dealing in firearms. An FFL must be enrolled with the FBI
NICS Section in order to request a NICS background check.
Felony or Serious Misdemeanor
The category of offenses for which fingerprints and criminal history information are
accepted by the FBI and entered in the Bureau's files, including the III system.
Serious misdemeanor is defined to exclude certain minor offenses, such as drunkenness
or minor traffic offenses.
Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS)
The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System, more commonly known as
IAFIS, is a national fingerprint and criminal history system maintained by the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division.
The IAFIS provides automated fingerprint search capabilities, latent searching
capability, electronic image storage, and electronic exchange of fingerprints and
responses, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As a result of submitting fingerprints
electronically, agencies receive electronic responses to criminal ten-print
fingerprint submissions within two hours and within 24 hours for civil fingerprint
submissions.
The IAFIS maintains the largest biometric database in the world, containing the
fingerprints and corresponding criminal history information for more than 55 million
subjects in the Criminal Master File. The fingerprints and corresponding criminal
history information are submitted voluntarily by state, local, and federal law
enforcement agencies.
Interstate Identification Index (III)
An "index-pointer" system for the interstate exchange of criminal history records.
Under III, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintains an identification index
to persons arrested for felonies or serious misdemeanors under State or Federal law.
The index includes identification information, (such as name, date of birth, race, and
sex), FBI Numbers and State Identification Numbers (SID) from each State holding
information about an individual. Search inquiries from criminal justice agencies
nationwide are transmitted automatically via State telecommunications networks and the
FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) telecommunications lines. Searches are
made on the basis of name and other identifiers. The process is entirely automated and
takes approximately five seconds to complete. If a hit is made against the Index,
record requests are made using the SID or FBI Number, and data are automatically
retrieved from each repository holding records on the individual and forwarded to the
requesting agency.
Participation requires that the State maintain an automated criminal history record
system capable of interfacing with the III system and capable of responding
automatically to all interstate and Federal/State record requests.
Juvenile Justice Record
Official records of juvenile justice adjudications. Most adult criminal history record
systems do not accept such records, which are frequently not supported by fingerprints
and which usually are confidential under State law. Pursuant to an order dated July
15, 1992, the FBI now accepts, and will disseminate, juvenile records on the same
basis as adult records. States, however, are not required to submit such records to
the FBI.
Livescan and Cardscan
Livescans are automated devices for generating and transmitting digitized fingerprint
images. Livescan devices capture fingerprint images directly from subjects' fingers,
which are rolled onto glass scanning plates. Cardscan devices scan and digitize
standard inked fingerprint cards and can transmit electronic images with related
textual data to remote sites for printout or direct use.
Master Name Index
A subject identification index maintained by criminal history record repositories that
includes names and other identifiers for each person about whom a record is held in
the systems. As of 1999, only one State did not have at least a partially automated
MNI; almost all States (45) had fully automated MNIs. The automated name index is the
key to rapidly identifying persons who have criminal records for such purposes as
presale firearm checks, criminal investigations or bailsetting. MNIs may
include "felony flags," which indicate whether record subjects have arrests or
convictions for felony offenses.
NCIC Protection Order File
The NCIC Protection Order File contains court orders that are issued to help law
enforcement prevent acts of domestic violence against a person or to prevent a person
from stalking, intimidating, or harassing another person. Orders are issued by both
civil and criminal state courts.
NICS Index
The NICS Index contains records provided by State and federal agencies about persons
prohibited from receiving firearms under federal law. All records in the NICS Index
are disqualifying records and will prohibit the sale of a firearm. Most records in the
NICS Index are obtained from federal agencies. However, authorized local and State law
enforcement agencies may voluntarily contribute records to the NICS Index.
National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
An automated database of criminal justice and justice-related records maintained by
the FBI. The database includes the "hot files" of wanted and missing persons, stolen
vehicles and identifiable stolen property, including firearms. Access to NCIC files is
through central control terminal operators in each State that are connected to NCIC
via dedicated telecommunications lines maintained by the FBI. Local agencies and
officers on the beat can access the State control terminal via the State law
enforcement network. Inquiries are based on name and other nonfingerprint
identification. Most criminal history inquiries of the III system are made via the
NCIC telecommunications system. NCIC data may be provided only for criminal justice
and other specifically authorized purposes. For criminal history searches, this
includes criminal justice employment, employment by Federally chartered or insured
banking institutions or securities firms, and use by State and local governments for
purposes of employment and licensing pursuant to a State statute approved by the U.S.
Attorney General. Inquiries regarding presale firearm checks are included as criminal
justice uses.
National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact
An interstate and Federal/State compact which establishes formal procedures and
governance structures for the use of the Interstate Identification Index (III). It is
designed to facilitate the exchange of criminal history data among States for
noncriminal justice purposes and to eliminate the need for the FBI to maintain
duplicate data about State offenders. Under the compact, the operation of this system
is overseen by a policymaking council comprised of Federal and State officials. The
key
concept underlying the compact is agreement among all signatory States that all
criminal history information (except sealed records) will be provided in response to
noncriminal justice requests from another State - regardless of whether the
information
being requested would be permitted to be disseminated for a similar noncriminal
justice
purpose within the State holding the data. The compact was passed by Congress and
signed into law by the President in October 1998. The compact became effective in
April
1999, following ratification by two State legislatures, Montana on April 8, 1999 and
Georgia on April 28, 1999. To date, 25 additional States have entered into the
compact:
Nevada (May 1999); Florida (June 1999); Colorado (March 2000); Iowa (April 2000);
Connecticut (June 2000); South Carolina (June 2000); Arkansas (February 2001); Kansas
(April 2001); Alaska (May 2001); Oklahoma (May 2001); Maine (June 2001); New Jersey
(January 2002); Minnesota (March 2002); Arizona (April 2002); Tennessee (June 2003),
North Carolina (June 2003); New Hampshire (June 2003); Missouri (July 2003); Ohio
(January 2004); Wyoming (February 2005); Idaho (March 2005), Maryland (May 2005);
Oregon (July 2005); West Virginia (April 2006); and Hawaii (May 2006).
National Fingerprint File (NFF)
A system and procedures designed as a component of the III system, which, when fully
implemented, would establish a totally decentralized system for the interstate
exchange of criminal history records. The NFF will contain fingerprints of Federal
offenders and a single set of fingerprints on State offenders from each State in which
an offender has been arrested for a felony or a serious misdemeanor. Under the NFF
concept, States will forward only the first-arrest fingerprints of an individual to
the FBI accompanied by other identification data such as name and date of birth.
Fingerprints for subsequent arrests would not be forwarded. Disposition data on the
individual would also be retained at the State repository and would not be forwarded
to the FBI. Upon receipt of the first-arrest fingerprint cards (or electronic images),
the FBI will enter the individual's fingerprint impressions in the NFF and will enter
the person's name and identifiers in the III, together with an FBI Number and a State
Identification (SID) Number for each State maintaining a record on the individual.
Charge and disposition information on State offenders will be maintained only at the
State level, and State repositories will be required to respond to all authorized
record requests concerning these individuals for both criminal justice and noncriminal
justice purposes. States would have to release all data on record subjects for
noncriminal justice inquiries regardless of whether the data could be released for
similar purposes within the State. The NFF has been implemented in eight States:
Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Montana, and Kansas.
National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS)
An automated system operated by the FBI established in accordance with the Brady
Handgun Violence Prevention Act to check the eligibility of prospective gun purchasers.
Positive Identification
Identification of an individual using biometric characteristics that are unique and
not subject to alteration. In present usage, the term refers to identification by
fingerprints but may also include identification by retinal images, voiceprints or
other techniques. Positive identification is to be distinguished from identification
using name, sex, date of birth, or other personal identifiers as shown on a document
subject to alteration or counterfeit such as a birth certificate, Social Security card
or driver's license. Because individuals can have identical or similar names, ages,
etc., identifications based on such characteristics are not reliable.
Rap back
A "rap back" or ¿hit notice¿ program will inform an employer or other designated
entity when an individual who has undergone a fingerprint-based background check, and
whose fingerprints are retained by a criminal history repository after the check, is
subsequently arrested. His or her fingerprints, obtained after the arrest, are matched
against a database that contains the fingerprints that were initially submitted.
Employers are then notified of the individual¿s arrest. Employers pay a fee for the
service in some states; other states provide the service for free.
The National Sex Offender Registry
The NCIC Convicted Sexual Offender Registry File is designed to help law enforcement
agencies keep track of convicted sex offenders released into the community. The file
contains records of persons: convicted of a criminal offense against a minor;
convicted of a sexually violent offense; or who are sexually violent predators.