Rolled prints
of 10 fingers (10 rolled prints) |
Flat-pressed prints
of 10 fingers (10 flat prints) |
Flat-pressed prints
of 2 fingers (2 flat prints) |
DOJ: Used as the IAFIS Criminal Master File enrollment standard
DHS: Used to check apprehended aliens against IAFIS Criminal Master File; used to enroll aliens in the IDENT Lookout database; used to enroll aliens to be booked in IAFIS Criminal Master File (CAR booking); used for background checks prior to issuing lawful permanent resident card or granting citizenship
DOS: Not used |
DOJ: FBI is currently implementing this as the standard for civil enrollments and conducting background checks
DHS: Not yet used; will become US-VISIT enrollment standard
DOS: Used on a limited basis through pilot projects at selected consulates
NIST recommended standard to enroll and search interoperable fingerprint identification systems |
DOJ: Not used, but accepted for one‑to‑one verification matches
DHS: Used to enroll aliens in IDENT database as well as for later searches of this database; Until US-VISIT transition to 10 flat prints, used to enroll visitors at ports of entry in US‑VISIT (if not done by DOS)
DOS: Until US-VISIT transition to 10 flat prints, used to enroll visa applicants at consulates in US-VISIT
NIST recommended standard for one‑to‑one verifications only |
Provides the most complete information for identifying individuals
Search accuracy; results in among the fewest false positive hits
Provide the most information to match against latent fingerprints
Greatest categorization of fingerprints reduces search to about 2 percent of database, enabling the most efficient use of processing power |
Search accuracy for identifying criminals in IAFIS is statistically indistinguishable from using 10 rolled prints
Takes only 10 to 15 seconds longer than taking 2 flat prints
Less intrusive than 10 rolled prints – operator need not touch subject
Fewer false positives than 2 prints
Improved categorization of fingerprints reduces search to about 6 percent of database, enabling more efficient use of processing power |
Least expensive for equipment and labor
Least intrusive for subjects
Least objectionable for foreign visitors
Acceptable search time when used to check 2-print databases
Fastest and easiest to take prints of acceptable quality (lowest enroll reject rate) |
Taking 10 rolled prints is time consuming and labor intensive
Most difficult to take prints of acceptable quality (highest enroll reject rate)
Requires different/more expensive equipment
Most intrusive (operator must physically roll subjects’ fingers)
Most objectionable to foreign visitors |
More expensive than two flats
Could be perceived as more intrusive than two flats
Slower IAFIS searches than 10 rolled
Provides less information than 10 rolled prints for identifying latent fingerprints |
Least accurate, results in most false positive hits and more frequent false negatives (i.e., missed identification of criminal on file)
Least categorization makes it inefficient for searching 10-print databases, such as IAFIS (requires searching 70 percent of database)
Provides least information for identifying latent fingerprints, which may be from any of 10 fingers
Possibility of finger sequence errors |