Databases

Aside from the databases that involve everything from car models to faces of convicted criminals, two of the biggest databases used in crime-solving check fingerprints and DNA fingerprints.

AFIS

"The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) is a biometric identification (ID) methodology that uses digital imaging technology to obtain, store, and analyze fingerprint data. The AFIS was originally used by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in criminal cases. Lately, it has gained favor for general identification and fraud prevention." (Citation 16)

Regulators of AFIS include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). (Citation 14)

Fingerprint. (Image 16)

CODIS

"The CODIS [Combined DNA Index System] system consists of types of three databases categorized by the type of information they contain. The first contains DNA profiles that are obtained from crime scenes (the forensic database). In most cases the source of this DNA is not known. The second database consists of profiles of criminal offenders and sometimes even those arrested for felonies and misdemeanors. Different states have different criteria for what DNA types will be contributed. If a crime occurs where DNA evidence is generated such as...sexual assault..., CODIS may be searched to see if the offender’s DNA is on file or if the DNA recovered from the scene is also found at another scene, indicating possibly that a serial criminal is at large. The third and most recent database in CODIS is that of missing persons. Efforts are being made to make this database as inclusive as possible nationwide so as to maximize the chances of identifying a missing person who may have crossed state lines. The CODIS data consists of genotypes from 13 STR loci." (Citation 14)

CODIS activity. (Image 17)