2015/04/10

FBI April,８ 2015:Next Generation Identification

The FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division took biometric identification to the next level when the Next Generation Identification (NGI) System—now the FBI’s largest information technology system—became fully operational. Seven years in the making, this new system expands upon and replaces the 15-year-old Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS).

In July 1999 the FBI marked 75 years of fingerprint identification services by upgrading to the electronic capabilities of IAFIS from the manual process of classifying, identifying, and storing fingerprint cards—a system that had changed little in seven and a half decades. With the final pieces of IAFIS’ successor in place, FBI employees around the world now have instant access to the latest in biometric technology. The system is making successful identifications more quickly and efficiently than before. According to CJIS Division’s assistant director, “NGI is more accurate than IAFIS and leverages more advanced technology to help with investigations.”

The planning for NGI began in 2007, and 3 years later the rollout of the system began with improvements to the electronic identification process for incoming fingerprint submissions. Later additions included improved search techniques for latent and palm prints, as well as a feature important to officer safety—the capability to receive fingerprint queries from mobile devices. The most recent increments have focused on new initiatives in biometrics to further help identify criminals.

The latest augmentation to NGI introduced two new features to the system: Rap Back and the Interstate Photo System (IPS). Rap Back provides an important feature for public safety regarding individuals working in public trust positions. IPS is a facial recognition service that allows law enforcement agencies to search photographs of criminals to assist with identifications. more