Police and other law enforcement agencies frequently run background checks. They do it to find out if a person has a criminal history. When they run such a criminal history check, the preferred way of doing it is by checking the fingerprint of the person. There is no doubt that fingerprints are the most accurate way of identifying a person and retrieving their criminal history.
Fingerprint-based biometrics is more effective than demographic-based (using names) verification. The main reason is the level of accuracy. Fingerprints are unique to each individual. Therefore, it is possible to get a perfect match when fingerprints are used for a criminal history check.
Why criminal background checks are needed?
There are many reasons why a criminal background check is needed. Whenever investigations are on in a criminal case, the police or FBI would like to know the criminal history of any suspects. It is not just the authorities who need to do a check, but even private organizations.
When a company is hiring an employee for a key position that calls for work in finances, childcare, etc. they would like a criminal check done. If someone wants access to enter a high security facility, the facility may want a criminal history check done. This background check is done to find out if the person was involved in any criminal case in the past.
How is the check done?
Whenever a criminal history check has to be done, there are certain formalities to be completed. When information is sought from the FBI, a request for live scan service form needs to be filled. The fingerprint would then be collected by the agency that does the live scan service. You may need to take a prior appointment to get the fingerprint taken.
Apart from the form, identification proof is required. Once all the paperwork is completed, an operator would take the fingerprint. It can be taken on a fingerprint card or in any format (like through a scanner). The agency then forwards the fingerprints to the FBI where it is processed as per the priority assigned to it.
NGI or Next Generation Identification is the system followed by the FBI for fingerprint matching. The system takes the fingerprint image and checks it in the vast database maintained by the FBI. The results of the match are then sent to the agency. Whether a match is found or not, this information is conveyed to the requesting agency.
The article has been published by the editorial board of the Identity Herald. For more
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