The Role of Automated Fingerprint in Reducing Criminal Activities (Essay Sample)

Automated Fingerprint Databases
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Automated fingerprint database is a customizable as well as scalable software package which helps in performing various tasks of searching, processing, retrieving and storing biometric templates (Komarinski, 2004). In addition, the database provides electronic exchange of fingerprints and electronic image storage. Being the largest database in the world, automated fingerprint database houses fingerprints, as well as criminal histories of more than 70 million subjects contained in the criminal master file (Bolle & Ratha, 2004). Taking this into consideration, the database helps significantly in curbing various forms of criminal activities such as terrorism, not only in the United States, but also in other parts of the world.
Due to the above capabilities of automated fingerprint database, investigators are able to identify various suspects in real life (Lee, Palmbach & Miller, 2011). This is for the purpose of comparing fingerprints found at crime scenes with printed images from the database (Komarinski, 2004). This in turn helps in identifying the suspects easily. Together with the Automated Fingerprint Identification System, which is a shared archive server, the database plays a substantial role in enabling the processing as well as storage of a wide range of livescan transmittals.
Legitimate firearm purchases, as well as employment background checks, are the primary reasons which cause permanent recording of the citizens in the database (Lee et al., 2011). For instance, many states in the US such as Washington usually mandate all applicants seeking for a job to have their fingerprints entered in the system (Komarinski, 2004). This is part of their background check for the purpose of determining whether the applicants have any record about criminal behavior. Through this mandate, employers are able to check the reliability, as well as competence of the applicants before employing them in their organization. Consequently, it reduces further criminal activities in the places of work (Lee et al., 2011).
Taking the United States into consideration, fingerprints from different citizens get submitted voluntarily to the FBI through local, state as well as federal law enforcement agencies in the country. These agencies usually acquire these fingerprints from criminal arrests (Bolle & Ratha, 2004). In addition, they also acquire them various non-criminal including US-VISIT program and employment background checks (Komarinski, 2004). After receiving the fingerprints, the FBI usually catalogs all the fingerprints along with any criminal behavior associated with the subject. From this point, the law enforcement agencies then requests the search in the database for the purpose of identifying crime scene fingerprints obtained during the investigation of crimes (Lee et al., 2011). In addition to this, the FBI also performs civil searches despite the fact that the response time is usually significantly slower.
With the advancement in technology, the process of obtaining fingerprints to the automated fingerprint database is becoming easier and efficient. This process usually involves rolling prints (Lee et al., 2011). In other circumstances, it entails placing a flat impression on a grass plate placed above a...