RCMP Fact Sheets

Forensic Identification Services

QUICK FACTS • In 2003, the Fingerprint Bureau processed 599,000 fingerprints. • Forensic Imaging Services processed 76,179 rolls of film in 2003. • Forensic Identification Specialists undergo a four year training program to become certified.

Overview
Forensic Identification Services, within the National Police Services (NPS) Information and Identification Services, establishes, implements and oversees the following programs:

• Forensic Identification Services;
• the Fingerprint Bureau;
• Forensic Imaging Services;
• Science and Technology Services.

1) Forensic Identification Services provides three levels of service delivery within the identification discipline to RCMP and external clients:

The Scenes of Crime Officer Program includes general duty RCMP members who respond to minor property offences.

Certified Forensic Identification Specialists consists of police officers who, after appropriate formal forensic training, provide technical and investigative expertise at crime scenes, accidental deaths, and disasters.

Regional Forensic Identification Support Services and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Response provides technical forensic support to all accredited police agencies in Canada.

2) The Fingerprint Bureau manages and maintains Canada’s central repository in support of the criminal records information system. More than 3.5 million sets of fingerprints are stored in the repository and are used to assist law enforcement agencies in their efforts to identify those responsible for crimes.

The Fingerprint Bureau’s mandate is achieved through the organizational activities of four units:

Fingerprint Services makes criminal record and fingerprint identification services available to all accredited agencies through the Canadian Police Services Information Centre, 24 hours a day.

Latent Fingerprint/Canadian Police Services Information Services assists Forensic Identification field technicians, nationally and internationally, by searching for scenes of crime fingerprints within a national database.

The Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) stores and maintains the National Criminal Fingerprint, National Refugee Fingerprint, and National Unsolved Latent Fingerprint collections.

Fingerprint Certification analyzes, compares, and certifies fingerprints received from national and international law enforcement and government agencies.

3) Forensic Imaging Services provides imaging and photographic services in support of RCMP operations.

4) Science and Technology Services provides research support to and develops technologies for Canadian law enforcement, and promotes interaction between the police community, government, industry, universities, and other research organizations.

Also within Forensic Identification Services is Forensic Identification Research Services, which provides specialists with information related to the best methods for the recovery and treatment of crime scene evidence.