RCMP making significant strides in enhancing criminal record and fingerprint processes

Ottawa, December 15, 2006 — The RCMP is realizing significant improvements to its fingerprint and criminal records systems in support of public safety and security. In 2003, the RCMP recognized that its systems could be enhanced to become more timely and responsive. As a result, it initiated efforts to reduce record backlogs and create a system to provide real-time information to Canadian law enforcement and criminal justice agencies . Since January 2005, the criminal record/fingerprint backlog has been reduced from 554,000 to 120,285 as of November, 2006.

The backlog grew partly due to the significant new demands following the events of September 11, 2001, which saw civil fingerprint submissions rise by 148 per cent, and criminal fingerprint submissions by 10 per cent per year. This is particularly significant given that the RCMP national criminal record repositories are based on biometric identification and verification using fingerprints, as opposed to matching names only in the criminal record database. In addition, the police agencies and government departments which submit criminal records to the RCMP’s Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) are also experiencing similar delays in providing information for entry into the fingerprint/criminal records databases. These increases in demands to both the RCMP and law enforcement across Canada, have led to delays in entering or updating criminal records.

In 2005, the RCMP received funding from the Government of Canada to implement the Real Time Identification Project (RTID) by 2009. The RTID Project will deliver a paperless, streamlined criminal records/fingerprint system that will prevent future system backlogs, and provide users with immediate results on latent fingerprint submissions. The first phase of the project will provide a new fingerprint identification system and workflow management systems This will allow movement of criminal records and verifications at a speed much greater than currently available. In a December 8, 2006 Canadian Press story, Judge Stephen Hunter says that many criminal convictions are not being recorded in a timely manner. It is important for the public to understand that the creation and update of a criminal record involves the court, the local police agency and the CCRTIS. Each agency must act in a timely way to ensure that criminal records in the national database are current.

The RCMP CCRTIS is working to improve the response times for criminal records and fingerprint submissions. As indicated above, processes have been streamlined to provide faster response times, and additional resources hired to effect significant reductions to the criminal records/fingerprint backlogs. The RTID Project will provide the electronic means to ensure backlogs do not return, and more effectively manage the national criminal records and fingerprint databases. This will provide all Canadians with an enhanced system that effectively supports public safety.

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For more information:

RCMP Media Relations
(613) 993-2999