| INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR IDENTIFICATION |
| MINNESOTA BCA-CJIS |
| Methods and Techniques for Capturing Classifiable Fingerprint Images For best results, whether an inking plate or a biometric scanning area (Live Scan) is used, the capture area should be approximately 39” from the floor. This height allows for the forearm of a subject of average height to be parallel to the floor, at which position it is best to roll and record fingerprints. Preparing the Subject’s Fingers If your subject’s fingers are very dry, try moistening them with a lanolin-based moisturizer. Hint: Corn Huskers lotion works very well. If your subject’s fingers are too moist, dry them with a paper towel. In cases of too much moisture, it is best to dry each finger individually for optimum effect. Capturing Fingerprint Images • Rolled Impressions Whether you are using ink or a Live Scan device, the technique for capturing legible fingerprints is the same. Roll each finger individually. The thumbs are rolled in towards the subject’s body. The fingers are rolled to the outside of the subject’s body. Thumbs in, fingers out, or T.I.F.O. Be sure to instruct the subject to relax and let you do the work. Roll each digit from nail edge to nail edge, covering from the top of the finger to the first joint. Only slight pressure is needed to capture a good fingerprint. Use an even continuous motion when rolling. DO NOT roll the digits back and forth. This will completely ruin the fingerprint. Be sure to place each impression in the appropriate boxes. Follow this procedure for both the right and left hands. • Plain Impressions Instruct the subject to hold their fingers together and rigid. Press the fingers straight down, using even pressure, without rolling. This same method should be used to capture the plain impressions of the thumbs. Be sure to place the impressions in the appropriate boxes. Important Note Remember to take the time to ‘do it right the first time.’ Try not to rush through the fingerprinting process. Poor images added to the State’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) database become potential ‘misses’ for Latent Print searches. Poor images that are searched against the database also have the potential of missing a match and therefore, criminal history data can be incorrectly added to the Computerized Criminal History (CCH) records. Maintaining the best possible images lessens these potentials. For information in Minnesota including fingerprint training on Live Scan devices offered by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) Training Unit, please visit this link on the BCA’s web site: http://www.dps. state.mn.us/bca/CJIS/Documents/Page-15-04.html#TRAINING%20AND% 20AUDITING%20UNIT. |
