Biometrics
measurement and analysis of fingerprints, palm prints, facial features, retinal scans, DNA, and other physical attributes. Collecting DNA is not only a condition of supervision but also assists various criminal justice agencies in identifying suspects. Many unsolved crimes have unidentified DNA evidence. DNA “hits” from collected samples have assisted investigations by linking offenders to these crimes.
Photograph an Offender for the Department of Corrections Website
Offenders will have their initial photograph taken during the intake process. Section 948.03, F.S., requires you to take digital photographs of offenders sentenced after July 1, 2010. Before taking the photograph, positively identify an offender.
Should an offender change in appearance, such as grow a beard, hair color change, or major weight change, policy dictates that a new photograph should update the offender case file. Transgender offenders are photographed as the gender that they represent in public.
An offender must stand or sit in front of a Department-approved background. Instruct the offender to remove any unnecessary accessories and cover inappropriate clothing. This includes hats, sunglasses, and t-shirts that may contain offensive materials. Remove or cover clothing depicting an employer’s name or any brand logo with a Department smock.
Take every precaution to ensure photographs do not display any evidence of physical or health conditions, such as oxygen tanks, tubes, or wheel chairs. If this is not feasible, document case notes the reason for inclusion.
Instruct an offender to sit upright, look forward with both eyes open, and refrain from any facial expressions (i.e. smiling, smirking, or glaring).
The offender will hold a Department issued ID nameplate at chest level while being photographed. Verify the Department of Corrections number before placing a photograph or any biometric information into OBIS. The Department authorizes only properly trained staff to take and submit offender photographs.
Unable to Read DC Number
Authorized personnel will review the photograph for quality before submitting it to the Department of Corrections website. If any corrections are necessary, retake the photograph. Once published, it is your responsibility to ensure an offender’s photograph is on the Department of Corrections intranet or the Department of Corrections public website.
Florida public records law, found in s. 119.07, F.S., exempts certain offender photographs from publication on the Department of Corrections public website, such as offenders participating in a PTI program, prior law enforcement officers, and confidential informants.
Rapid ID
Computer-based system used to validate or identify an offender reporting to a probation officer. It captures fingerprints and compares prints to known arrest prints in FCIC. The Rapid ID system can assist officers in identifying an offender and developing “watch lists” that can generate an alert when an offender is arrested.
Rapid ID is a fingerprint scanner wirelessly tethered to a laptop or computer in a secured area within the probation office. Rapid ID captures offender fingerprint images and transmits them electronically to the FCIC/NCIC databases for a search or a match of an offender’s identity. The system determines personal identifiers, outstanding warrants, criminal history, and DNA submissions.
Florida’s Rapid ID system interfaces with the FBI’s Repository for Individuals of Special Concern (RISC) database. Rapid ID allows Florida’s officers to query this database of known criminal subjects including wanted persons, sex offenders, and known or suspected terrorists. RISC database contains nearly 3 million additional criminal records and allows Rapid ID users to assess the threat level of an offender effectively
Jessica Lunsford Act (JLA)
provides immediate identification of an offender with a background of sex offenses. The JLA is a Florida law designed to protect potential victims of sexual battery and reduce a sexual offender’s ability to re-offend.
Rapid ID
Two Types of Transactions :
search - establishes the identity of an offender by using the submission of two fingerprint images. Conduct a search transaction when an offender does not have a SID or FDLE number.
match - when an offender has an established SID or FDLE number within the system. A match transaction validates the identity of an offender using the submission of one fingerprint image and a SID
Rapid ID
Three Different Responses
- Hit response indicates that there is one exact match.
- No hit response - indicates the system was unable to find a match to the two-fingerprint image. If you receive a no-hit response, submit another search transaction using another set of fingerprint images.
Reasons for No Hit Responses:
• poor fingerprint quality
• multiple fingerprint images transmitted
• multiple criminal records
• no record found (generally means an offender has no previous criminal history). - Ambiguous response - means there were multiple potential matches. If you receive this response, submit a different set of fingerprint images.
Collecting Offender DNA Sample
Sections 943.325 and 948.014, F.S., require offenders with a felony or certain misdemeanor offense(s) to submit DNA samples. OBIS may indicate a DNA sample is required; however, always research the FDLE DNA database and review any DNA notifications before collecting a new specimen. If you determine there is not a DNA sample on file for an offender, follow Department policy to collect and submit a DNA sample to the FDLE database.
Once you verify the identity of an offender in the Rapid ID system, select the option to print a Rapid ID DNA label. Gather a DNA submission kit, a fingerprint inkpad, and PPE. The DNA submission kit should include:
• 1 Fast Technology for Analysis (FTA) Collection Card
• 1 sterile cotton tip swab
• 1 sterile foam tip swab
Use universal precautions by applying PPE when handling biological samples to ensure no cross contamination occurs while performing the following collection process:
- Make sure an offender did not eat, drink, or smoke in the last fifteen (15) minutes before beginning the process.
- Instruct the offender to wipe the inside of their cheek with the sponge swab, transfer the DNA to the collection pad, and return the sponge swab to the original packaging.
- Instruct the offender to wipe the inside of their cheek with a cotton-tipped swab and return the cotton-tipped swab to the original packaging.
Processing Offender DNA Sample
Complete processing an offender DNA sample in the presence of the offender to avoid inadvertently moving samples into another offender’s envelope or losing or contaminating samples.
- Seal the sponge swab, cotton-tipped swab, and the DNA collection pad into the attached interior envelope.
- Affix the Rapid ID bar code label, which you just printed, to the interior envelope. If the Rapid ID DNA label is not available, complete all sections of the attached FDLE collection information card.
- Make a copy of the completed card for your records and place it inside the interior envelope.
- Insert the DNA submission kit into the pre-printed address envelope and seal.
- Instruct an offender to place thumbprints in the designated area on the exterior seal of the envelope.
- Sign the submission kit where indicated on the seal.
- Fold and seal the kit and place it into the outside envelope.
- Mail the sealed kit to the designated address for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
