Fingerprints and human identification 97
6.6 Automated Fingerprint Identification Technology
While the recovery of identifiable postmortem impressions from human
remains is an integral part of the forensic identification process, it is impera-
tive that these impressions be compared with an antemortem standard in
order to have any value in establishing or verifying human identity. The expe-
ditious identification of postmortem remains depends on the most important
technological advancement in the history of fingerprinting: the Automated
Fingerprint Identification System. This computer system, known as AFIS,
has evolved from its early use as a means of searching criminal ten-print
records to its use today in identifying suspects of crimes through latent print
searches against local, state, and national fingerprint repositories.
In 1999, the FBI released the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identi-
fication System (IAFIS), which consists of a biometric database of millions
of fingerprint cards and criminal history records submitted by law enforce-
ment agencies around the country. IAFIS allows the FBI and other criminal
justice agencies to electronically access the national fingerprint repository in
Clarksburg, West Virginia, for ten-print and latent print searches, meaning
that criminals can be tracked by their fingerprints throughout the United
States. If individuals have been arrested, it is probable that their fingerprint
records are contained in the FBI Criminal Master File (CMF). If individuals
have been fingerprinted as part of a background investigation for a job or for
military service, it is likely that their fingerprint records are contained in the
FBI Civil File (CVL).
Some of the most important criteria in using fingerprints as a means of
human identification is the cost-effective and rapid reporting of results, which
is directly related to fingerprint computer technology. AFIS, in addition to
being a crime-fighting tool, is also instrumental in the identification of the
dead. If a dog tag or wallet can be obtained from decedents, the fingerprint
Figure 6.9 recovery of a powder impression through the use of casting putty.