Biometric Technology In Law Enforcement

2.12. Applications of Biometric Technology

Although policing is primarily a law enforcement activity, those in the policing profession must have at least a working knowledge of a wide variety of other types of activities in order to become good at law enforcement. Biometrics are used in many areas other than law enforcement. To only consider the use of biometrics in the law enforcement realm would thus be limiting. Modern policing requires its practitioners to see beyond their realm in order to be truly effective.[]

 Law Enforcement

The law enforcement area is probably the largest biometric user group. Primarily AFIS and palm-based technologies are used as an extension of traditional human processes. However, there have been applications

Identification/authentication for audit and transaction-tracking purposes is also a growing concern. Automated Banking machines (ABMs) and point of sale transactions are particular weak links that could easily be addressed by biometric technologies. Telephone and Internet banking also provide challenges in need of identification/ authentication. The difficulty of finding a technology that is generally acceptable to customers and that can become an industry standard remains. The vast expense of converting current systems presents an even greater

Authentication to use a machine or computer systems is one aspect while another is verification for such activities as conducting commercial activity across the Net. The computing industry accumulates vast quantities of valuable information including banking data, business intelligence, credit card numbers, medical information and other personal data. This makes it an entity in need of special safeguards.

 Immigration

Biometric technologies have found some of their earliest applications in the immigration area. The systems must quickly and efficiently process large numbers of travelers — separating the law-abiding travelers from the lawbreakers.

 National Identity

Various nations around the world are adopting biometric technologies to assist in such activities as recording population growth, identifying citizens and preventing fraud in elections. Mexico, for example, has developed a more secure voter identification card complete with photograph and digitized fingerprint. Spain requires an identity card containing a digitized fingerprint. Colombia, in its Legislature, uses hand geometry to verify the identity of the country’s