New Software To Help Police ID Individuals Through Fingerprints

February 23, 2010 by Josh Morgan

The Cheshire Police Department is expected to receive new fingerprinting software, through a state grant, that will allow background checks and arrest records to show up almost immediately.
The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) has been in use throughout police departments for many years, but Cheshire has yet to purchase the system because of the costs involved. However, with the help of federal stimulus money, the state is issuing grants to departments to obtain the system. Police Chief Michael Cruess said the state identified Cheshire as a worthy recipient and, last week, the Town Council unanimously approved the grant application.
"This is pretty much a slam dunk," said Republican Councilor Tom Ruocco. "This is good for public safety."
Currently, the department takes fingerprints on cards and has to mail them to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These cards are sent for many reasons, including a background check for a job or after an arrest. When the cards are mailed, they are sometimes returned for poor quality, causing the department to have to redo the fingerprints and delay the results. Overall, Cruess said the turnaround time is lengthy but, with with the new system, responses from the FBI could be received in approximately five to 10 minutes, with the maximum response time no longer than 20 minutes.
"It's a really good system," Cruess said. "It's been around for a while and we've been thinking about it at least 10 years."
Through the grant, which the department is expected to receive, there would be no cost to the Town until 2014, when an annual $3,730 maintenance fee would take effect. In essence, the Town would be getting a $33,000 value for free, with costs beginning a few years later when, it is hoped, the economy has rebounded, Cruess commented.
With the new system, fingerprints would be stored electronically rather than manually in a case file, which officials believe will save significant time. The system includes more than 55 million subjects in a master file and, over time, local law enforcement agencies can manually update criminal history in the database, according to the FBI's AFIS Web site. The technology has been available since the summer of 1999.
"It's been around a while and, speaking with other chiefs, I know they like it," Cruess said. "If no one liked it, it would have gone away. The state is trying to make sure everyone gets on board."
The rapid response of AFIS helps identify a suspect and determine any previous crimes while they are still in custody. Also, if someone is an illegal immigrant and their prints are scanned, immigration and customs enforcement in Hartford would automatically be notified.
Cruess believes the department was behind the curve when it came to fingerprinting capabilities, and thought that, one day, the state would mandate departments to have the software. He is pleased that a grant will be available to offset the initial costs and training, considering the economic climate.
"It will save us around $35,000 once it's all implemented," Cruess said. "We responded to the grant and, once the state completes the paperwork, it will be delivered in the spring. At least that's our hope."