Fingerprint/Identification Services
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services has been responsible for maintaining the state’s fingerprint database and processing fingerprint transactions for more than 100 years.
The core business function of the agency’s Office of Criminal Justice Operations is receiving, processing and identifying criminal, civil and crime scene fingerprints against a base file of more than 40 million fingerprint images.
The outcome of this important public safety operation is the positive identification of subject individuals, and the timely dissemination of their complete and accurate criminal history information to authorized agencies.
Professional fingerprint examiners integrate time-honored identification skills with state-of-the biometric identification technology to support New York’s criminal justice system and the criminal history background check process for certain jobs and licenses.
Criminal Identification
The Criminal Identification unit processes fingerprint transactions associated with misdemeanor and felony arrests, incarcerations and criminal justice-related inquiries.
DCJS receives criminal fingerprint transactions from law enforcement around the clock. Each transaction is processed in under one hour in order to determine positive identification, past criminal history and warrant information.
Criminal history record reports, commonly referred to as “rap sheets,” are returned electronically, and by mail, to contributing law enforcement agencies, district attorney offices and to courts for use in arraignment and bail determinations.
SABIS-Latent Brochure (pdf)
Download Evidence Submission form to submit latent print evidence to DCJS’ Latent Print Unit (pdf)
[Note: The Latent Print Unit operates from 7a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday - Friday.]
Latent Print Unit - Customer Satisfaction Survey (pdf)
Latent Print Unit - Complaint Form (pdf)
Civil Identification
The Civil Identification unit is responsible for processing fingerprint submissions that are associated with applications for certain occupations or licenses that require a criminal history background check pursuant to state statute or local law.
Background checks are required for a variety of jobs, ranging from school teachers, school bus drivers and child care workers to police officers, nursing home employees and taxi cab drivers. The Civil Identification unit receives applicant fingerprint submissions from more than 850 contributing agencies statewide.
Each applicant fingerprint submission is processed in under two days with criminal history record reports returned to contributing agencies electronically and by mail. The Civil Identification unit also provides a point of contact for customers with questions or problems with their fingerprint submissions.
Origins of the New York State Bureau of Identification
In September 1996, the New York State Bureau of Identification celebrated 100 years of continuous service. To commemorate this achievement, Origins of the New York State Bureau of Identification was published in book form.