Law Enforcement Jurisdictions Create Biometric Database Network

In large cities all across the United States, something as simple as crossing a street can allow criminals to fly under the radar for years.

Many cities face the ever-present issue of cross-jurisdictional boundaries when trying to prevent crime. It’s a big term, but something easy that criminals try to take advantage of.

The situation goes something like this. A criminal crosses a jurisdictional boundary to commit crimes and then return home. And many times, the person is arrested in a neighboring city on a misdemeanor charge while also having a felony arrest warrant from another nearby city.

To tackle the jurisdictional issues head on, nine local law enforcement agencies in the Washington, D.C., area have banded together to form a network of biometric databases to enable cross-jurisdictional law enforcement.

Agencies from Fairfax County, Va., Montgomery and Prince George’s County, Md., and Washington, D.C. along with the U.S. Secret Service have each established an Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) that enables the cross-boundary search of other agencies’ criminal databases based on biometric information. Interoperability also extends to Sheriff’s Information Management System, Virginia State Police and FBI.

With technology from Motorola, an interoperable network was formed with each jurisdiction’s specific requirements. So each agency allows law enforcement personnel to search the database across jurisdictional territories. The network also has recently been upgraded for access via mobile field units.

In practice, the system provides a quick and simple check of a suspect across all the participating jurisdictions. For example, when an officer in Fairfax County detains a suspect and captures their fingerprints, the information is sent to the county’s AFIS system to provide information about arrest records and possible outstanding warrants.

If there is no information in Fairfax County, the biometric information is simultaneously transferred to the other jurisdiction’s AFIS systems. Searching those databases, a positive match would provide law enforcement with the criminal history of the individual’s unlawful activities in neighboring jurisdictions and alert the officer of any possible outstanding arrest warrant issued.

All the participating agencies use Motorola’s advanced Biometric Identification Systems (BIS). Each system was designed to meet the operational, logistical and legislative requirements of the respective counties and states. The solution includes multi-modal biometric systems for fingerprint, palm prints and facial images. Advanced workstations also were installed for latent processing and new bookings.

With the new system, officials have seen an increase in positive identification and crimes solved thanks to the cross-jurisdictional information in the AFIS system. The involved agencies also have reported a reduction in hardware procurement costs and maintenance/support expenditures.

About the Author

Brent Dirks is senior editor for Security Today and Campus Security Today magazines.

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