Page 204 - Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS)

STANDARDS AND INTEROPERABILITY 189

• Standard practice in one agency is to relaunch the lift 2–3 times, but this is
the examiner’s option at the other agency.
• Different sizes of databases.
• Agency 1 has a reported hit rate of 31% of cases; State 1 has 2% for all cases
received, but 11% for new cases.
• Agency 1 has a 10% ident rate when compared against the number of
searches, while State 1 has a 1.5% ident rate.

As is evident from this example, there are various methods employed to count
idents and determine a hit rate. What is the preferred method? Without the
agreement as to a uniform method for reporting ident counts and rates, it
becomes nearly impossible to compare idents in any meaningful way. This sit-
uation is perhaps not that different from the problems faced by the FBI in col-
lecting crime data. Until the development of the uniform crime report, there
was no practical method for comparing crime rates and measuring success or
weakness.
More recent developments in crime mapping technology, combined with
standard definitions in a data dictionary, allow participants to make valid
comparisons and look for methods of improvements, to “sing from the same
sheet of music.” In addition, the various methods used in reporting may mask
opportunities to improve idents that may become apparent if all users agree to
the same reporting techniques.