Fingerprint /Criminal History Record Training

The FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division offers training in the proper preparation/processing of fingerprint submissions and criminal history record data to international, Federal, state, and local criminal justice agencies and other authorized entities. This training is helpful to law enforcement agencies who obtain fingerprint impressions of arrestees or for non-law enforcement agencies who fingerprint individuals for employment, volunteer, or licensing purposes. This page highlights the Training Group’s mission, courses available, training initiatives for 2005, procedures for requesting training, and contact information.

Upcoming Training Announcement

Our Mission

"To provide the highest standard of training for proper preparation and processing of fingerprint submissions and criminal history record data to our internal and external customers, to continue forging partnerships with the law enforcement community, working toward the common goal of reducing terrorist and criminal activities, to inspire change and develop innovative, effective training in accordance with the needs of our customers."

Courses Available

Taking Legible Fingerprints – This is a one-day course. Attendees learn to recognize fingerprint pattern types, techniques for taking legible fingerprints, guidelines for preparation of criminal and applicant (civil) fingerprint submissions and techniques to avoid fingerprint rejections.

Basic Pattern and Recognition – This is a three-day course. Attendees learn the basic fingerprint pattern types and classification formulas:

§ Henry Classification

§ National Crime Information Center (NCIC)

§ Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) Pattern Classification

Instructors provide fingerprint comparison training and hands-on training in the proper procedures for taking legible fingerprints.

Training Locations

At the CJIS Division Facility - Training is available at the CJIS Division facility in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Travel costs will be the responsibility of the attendee. Training and training materials will be provided at no cost.

Directions to the CJIS Facility/Area lodging Information

At Your Location - You may request training at your location (must have a minimum of 15 participants.) Training at your location is dependent on availability of FBI travel funding and the travel schedules of the Training Instructors.

How to Request Training

If you are interested in attending training, please email us at fingerprint_training@leo.gov. Please specify the following in your email:

§ Name of your agency

§ Contact name and telephone number

§ Type of training you are requesting

§ Requested location of the training

§ Requested dates

§ How many attending

Once your request is received, you will be contacted by a Training Group member.

Chat Sessions on Law Enforcement Online

The CJIS Division hosts Chat Sessions on Law Enforcement Online (LEO) (www.leo.gov) regarding fingerprints and criminal history record data. The purpose is to provide an informal forum to discuss fingerprint-related issues and provide training and support. Chat Sessions are scheduled on the second Wednesday of every month at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Upcoming LEO Chat Dates:
Wednesday, 11/9/05
Wednesday, 1/11/06
Wednesday, 2/8/05

The Training Group would love to hear from you! Please e-mail the Training Group at fingerprint_training@leo.gov with recommended presentation/discussion topics (related to fingerprinting and criminal history information) for the upcoming LEO Chat Sessions. Please select a topic that relates to issues/questions experienced by your agency. The first ten law enforcement representatives to submit an approved topic will receive an FBI memorabilia item for their participation (one winner per agency). The winners (and their respective agencies) will be recognized on our LEO website.

For More Information on LEO

For more information on LEO and how to sign up to view the Training web site and participate in future Chat Sessions, please contact the CJIS Division's Advisory Groups Management Unit at (304) 625-2618. The LEO provides the law enforcement, criminal justice, and public service communities with a secure method of electronic communication. LEO is accessed through the Internet via your regular Internet Service Provider and SmartPass software provided by the LEO staff to create a Virtual Private Network.

How to Contact Us

Please contact us at fingerprint_training@leo.gov to:

-Ask questions about our services

-Request training

-Recommend future topics for training courses

-Recommend discussion topics for the LEO Chat Sessions

-Request participation in the “Train-the-Trainer” Program

You do not need LEO access to e-mail us at this address.

Please limit your suggestions to fingerprint and criminal history related training.

Vision for 2005

New Training Courses: It is our vision to expand our training course list in 2005 to include advanced fingerprint training and in-depth criminal history record data training. Expansion of our services will further assist agencies with providing the most accurate and thorough criminal history information and obtaining the highest quality fingerprint impressions possible. Both are crucial to further minimizing the number of fingerprint submissions rejected and ensuring prompt receipt of identification/non-identification responses and criminal history information.

Train-the-Trainer Program: This Program is currently being developed. The goal is to provide an opportunity for external agencies to send representatives who are involved in fingerprint-related training to the CJIS Division for extended training with an Instructor. The participants who complete the Program will be more knowledgeable about Fingerprint Pattern Recognition, Classification, Comparison, Criminal Data Information, the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), and the work performed by FBI Fingerprint Examiners. Participants will receive hands-on training from Instructors and guidance in the best methods to convey this information upon returning to their agencies. The ultimate goal of this Program is to further improve communication between agencies and the FBI regarding proper processes/procedures for taking fingerprints and completing criminal history data information.

International Training: Instructors are members of an International Fingerprint Team which instructs International agencies in all fingerprinting aspects, giving them the knowledge they need to set up their own fingerprint repository. The Team has traveled to Pakistan, Kenya, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

International Association for Identification: The Training Group is involved with the International Association for Identification (IAI), a professional association for individuals/agencies in the fields of forensic identification, investigation, and scientific examination of evidence. The Training Group looks forward to further developing this relationship with the ultimate goal of enhancing/strengthening future fingerprint training to benefit external agencies and internal Fingerprint Examiners. (For more information on the IAI, visit www.theiai.org.)