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Forensic Investigator Essay

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When analyzing a crime scene, Forensic investigator’s typically search for fingerprint evidence but what good would fingerprint evidence be without anything to compare it to? In the 1960’s, a computerized system called the Integrated Automated Identification System was created to allow law officials across the country to look at prints with this system, when searching for a possible suspect!
Before the AFIS system was created, in the late 1800’s, fingerprints were classified by the Henry system of loops, whorls and arches. All these fingerprints were stored in files which meant an FBI examiner would be led to a room of cabinets, which would lead to one specific cabinet, then to a drawer, and then possibly to fingerprints that had the same …show more content…

The AFIS system has progressed tremendously over time!
At the Polk County Jail here in Texas, when an individual is arrested and brought into custody, they are fingerprinted as part of the booking process. Their fingers and palms are rolled on a glass plate, which reads the information from the prints, from there that information is electronically submitted to the Identification Section, where a technician checks the prints for quality control. After the prints are checked on the AFIS Verification Station, the technician transmits the information to the AFIS database, where the prints are searched against the database of over millions of fingerprints. Within a few minutes, the AFIS will return information with the closest matches to the prints that were submitted. After that the technician will analyze the prints from the suspects and the prints sent back from AFIS to determine if they’ve been arrested, have an active warrant or have provided false identifying information.
Even though fingerprinting technology is relatively new, there’s always room for improvement. One of the latest improvements and additions to this type of technology has been added, the Live Scan. This is a new method of getting fingerprints into the system without having to use inked fingerprints. The Live Scan fingerprint console contains a fingerprint scanner, printer and new software needed to enter the prints

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