POLICE PRACTICES WIN: AFIS TECHNOLOGY FOR RURAL STATES Large law enforcement agencies have experienced remarkable success with the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) technology in recent years. In fact, AFIS is revolutionizing the way fingerprints are processed and used in the identification and apprehension of criminals. Currently, over half of the States and about 50 city or county agencies have operational automated fingerprinting systems. However, the high cost of this incredible technology prevents many smaller agencies, both State and local, from realizing its benefits. This is changing, however, in a handful of western States because of an innovative and cooperative effort among law enforcement officers, administrators and planners to make the implementation of AFIS a reality in their region. Their accomplishments could well be replicated in other areas of the country and among other jurisdictions that are looking for a feasible means of keeping up with progressive technology. PLANNING Early in January 1988, representatives from law enforcement agencies in six western States (Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, and Oregon) met in Boise, Idaho, to discuss their individual and collective needs for an AFIS. Each representative could demonstrate a documented need for such a system. But they shared a common problem--lack of sufficient capital to purchase the full complement of hardware needed to maintain the system. In search for a solution, the representatives considered a network of leased "smart" terminals (remote input stations) linked by dedicated telephone lines to a central, remotely accessible processing center. Initial data indicated that a combined shared database could produce a cost savings of up to 50 percent. Such links already existed within California and Washington, where remote terminals are connected by telephone lines to a central process unit at a designated site. However, when trying to ensure the compatibility of the identification systems, the issue of individual State laws arose. It was discovered that individual States would have a problem with leasing laws, which could be solved by creating a corporation among the States. By doing this, leasing laws would no longer be a restraining factor. Once this was resolved, interstate connections were solidified, and each State's system could talk to the systems of the other States. However, without this capability, no interchange of database access is possible. FORMATION OF WIN To protect individual members' rights and investments, the States formed a nonprofit corporation. In May 1988, articles of incorporation and bylaws were filed in Nevada to create the Western Identification Network, Inc. (WIN). This nonprofit corporation facilitated the creation of a multi-State network designed to address the needs of the States, both collectively and individually. A request for proposal (RFP) for the system was released in June 1988, and by September, an information systems company was selected to provide equipment and training. The company would also serve as a consultant should any problems arise. During the RFP process, criminal justice executives convinced State legislatures to fund participation in WIN. For many, this required an extensive education program because, even though the WIN concept is far cheaper than outright purchase or lease on an individual basis, the project still involved a considerable outlay of tax dollars. Through a multi-State, combined effort, using departmental resources and talent, the representatives produced a promotional video used to educate officials and the public on the advantages of the system. By June 1989, Alaska, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the Portland Police Bureau had obtained funding appropriations. Once the funds became available, WIN quickly established an office and a staff of two to administer billings, oversee the vendor operations, and ensure that contractual requirements were met. During October 1989, the WIN host computer was installed in Sacramento, California, and 900,000 records from five States were converted to AFIS data and loaded into the system. Remote subsystems were installed in Boise, Idaho, Carson City, Nevada, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Portland, Oregon, Salem, Oregon, and Salt Lake City, Utah. In addition, booking terminals are slated to be installed in numerous other locations throughout these States. California was connected to the system during the first 6 months of 1990, and the Alaska and Washington AFIS systems came online in August 1990. PROGRAM SUCCESSES As of June 1990, Idaho, which came online just 6 months prior, has had over 37 hits, resulting in the identification of suspects in a 25-year-old homicide case, 2 armed robberies, 1 auto theft, 2 rape cases, 4 drug cases, and 27 major burglaries. The director of the Idaho Department of Law Enforcement praised the system for bringing a predominantly rural State, such as Idaho, to the "leading edge of effective crime control." The WIN AFIS, now fully operational, is capable of processing 24,240 arrest cards and 4,500 crime scene latent prints per month against a database of 1.3 million criminal fingerprint records. With the pooling of data, individual State records can be searched as necessary, and since crime knows no borders, the probability of hits increases greatly. CONCLUSION Results obtained during training and the first months of implementation indicate that benefits derived from WIN will be comparable to system successes in other States. With 10,000 records being added each month, and other States expected to come online in the near future, the entire western United States will soon share a common access to an automated fingerprint identification system. The capability to search criminal data in multiple States may, indeed, prove to be valuable beyond the most optimistic expectations. _______________ Information for this column was submitted by W.C. Overton, Chief of the Office of Public Affairs, Idaho Department of Law Enforcement.  Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253