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Overview[]

The Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) is

the FBI's large-scale ten fingerprint open-set identification system that is used for criminal history background checks and identification of latent prints discovered at crime scenes. This system provides automated and latent search capabilities, electronic image storage, and electronic exchange of fingerprints and responses.[1]

The more than 40 million records in its criminal master file are connected electronically with all 50 states and some federal agencies.

IAFIS was designed to handle a large volume of fingerprint checks against a large database of fingerprints. The IAFIS processes, on average, approximately 48,000 fingerprints per day and has processed as many as 82,000 in a single day. IAFIS's target response time for criminal fingerprints submitted electronically is 2 hours; for civilian fingerprint background checks, 24 hours.

IAFIS is being replaced by the Next Generation Identification-Interstate Photo System (NGI-IPS) system. The FBI expects to complete the last NGI increment by 2017.

References[]

  1. NSTC Subcommittee on Biometrics, Biometrics Glossary, at 16-17 (Sept. 14, 2006) (full-text).

See also[]