Records & Identification Bureau                   BACK 

BUREAUS:

Communications 
& Fleet
 
-  function 
- overview
 

Data Systems 
-  function 
- overview
 

Records & 
Identification
 
-  function 
- overview
 

Scientific Services 
-  function 
- overview
 

 
  Records & Identification Bureau consists of the following support Units/Sections:
  Operations
       -Administration & Personnel
       
CCHRS:
Consolidated Criminal History
            Reporting System

  CWS: Countywide Warrant System

Identification Systems
       -LACRIS: Los Angeles County
            Regional Identification System
       -Fingerprinting

PALES -
     
 Public & Law Enforcement Services

Management Information Services
       -Statistics Section
       -Crime Analysis Program
       -CARS: Command Accountability
            Reporting System
       -GIS: Geographic Information System
       -Technical Support Section

 

     
 
 


CWS Unit - The Countywide Warrant System (CWS) maintains information on persons for whom a felony, misdemeanor, or traffic warrant has been issued. It is a computerized information system designed for efficient and rapid retrieval of warrants and wanted persons information. CWS also contains felony want information. Unlike the CJIS (California) and NCIC (federal) wanted persons systems, CWS provides a Warrant Information Sheet (WIS for identification and warrant booking purposes).

The Superior Court issues only two types of warrants:
  - Bench warrants as a result of information, an indictment, or a violation of probation, and
  - Body attachments for defaulters.

All bench warrants and body attachments for defaulters, including Juvenile Court warrants originating from the Superior Court or its departments, are placed into CWS.

Until late 1997, CWS entered all the data from the paper copy of the felony warrant issued by the courts. To make the system more timely, the Superior Courts now enter the data when the warrant is issued. This is done for all warrants except those issued by the Juvenile Courts, which are still entered by CWS personnel.

The Unit provides the law enforcement community with accurate and timely warrant information. CWS provides operational training to station personnel and all CWS participants. It also analyzes legislation and proposals regarding warrants.

 
 

LACRIS: The Los Angeles County Regional Identification System (LACRIS) is the body responsible for fingerprint identification services for all law enforcement agencies in the County. LACRIS is managed by the Sheriff, with oversight, direction, and funding authorization by the Remote Access Network (RAN) Board. LACRIS is in the process of upgrading both aging Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) for the Sheriff and Los Angeles Police Department into a single advanced system. LAPD completes identification processing for Los Angeles City, while the Sheriff's Central Site at RIB processes identifications for all other agencies in the County. Latent Fingerprint examiners conduct investigations via terminals at ten remote sites, known as Local Input Terminals (LIT). LIT sites are located at the Sheriff's Scientific Services Bureau, Los Angeles PD, Downey PD, Long Beach PD, Pasadena PD, Pomona PD, Torrance PD, Santa Monica PD, West Covina PD, and Whittier PD. Crime scene latent fingerprints are routinely checked against either local databases or the California Department of Justice (DOJ). Fingerprint identification of prisoners and immediate registration of the arrest are completed through the DOJ AFIS and updated in local criminal history systems.

AFIS: A new Regional Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) is in the procurement phase and will service the needs of all County law enforcement agencies for both arrest identifications and identification of latent (crime scene) prints. The Regional AFIS, which should be operational mid 2003, represents the latest in technology and provides advanced investigative tools and exceptional accuracy. The system accommodates the two central sites, one at Sheriffs Records and Identification Bureau, and the second at Los Angeles Police Department's Records and Identification Division. The Sheriff's site processes over 20,000 monthly bookings from Sheriff's arrests and all Police agencies except Los Angeles. The LAPD Central Site processes approximately 10,000 monthly arrests. The Regional AFIS will be the first County AFIS to incorporate automated Palm Searching, and significantly elevates the potential for solving crimes, including previously unsearched homicide prints.

Livescan: The LACRIS livescan network consists of over 160 networked livescan fingerprint devices known as "tenprinters" The tenprinters permit the electronic capture of fingerprint images through scanning technology. The tenprinters function as complete booking stations when demographic information is inputted, or information be retrieved from the Automated Justice Information System (AJIS) through the Livescan Interface (LSI) application. The livescan booking process incorporates the mugshot photo capture as well. Upon completion of booking, fingerprints, mugshots and demographic data are electronically transmitted to the one of the Central Sites for processing. An electronic version of the L.A. County Consolidated Booking Slip may be printed from the tenprinter. This booking slip includes a mugshot image, as well as fingerprints. Every police agency in Los Angeles County is currently utilizing this consolidated booking slip. In addition to Sheriff's stations, livescan workstations are provided by LACRIS funding to every municipal police department in L.A. County, the Courts, Probation Department's Juvenile Halls, and the District Attorney investigators Office. An innovative "articulated" livescan on a movable platform was provided to the Coroner's Office to facilitate identification of the deceased.

Mugshot System: The LACRIS Mugshot System is a technically advanced system that provides mugshots of each arrest, accessible to police officers and investigators throughout the County. It includes an Intranet web application that permits searches, creation of mugbooks, and composition of "six pack lineups." Additional functionality is available on dedicated terminals at 14 strategically located remote sites which are accessible to all police agencies. Four sites include the ability to conduct facial recognition matching. The Mugshot System is integrated with Cal-Photo, which establishes a Statewide network of mugshot and DMV photos.

 
 


PALES: Public and Law Enforcement Services is responsible for archiving, retrieving, and releasing crime reports and booking jacket information it maintains. It is comprised of Applicant, Correspondence, Certification, Department of Defense, Validation, Sealing, Document Processing, Information Retrieval, Public Services, and Registration units.

- The Applicant Processing Unit performs criminal record checks for law enforcement and other authorized agencies for employment and licensing purposes.

- The Correspondence Unit responds to written and electronically mailed requests for police or accident reports and custody/booking information received from authorized and law enforcement agencies. The Desk is also part of this unit and generally handles those requests for custody/booking information and reports from individual private clients, and insurance companies.

-The Certification Unit responds to requests for criminal records and/or crime reports from the Department of Justice, the courts and the correctional institutions.

- The Department of Defense Unit (DOD) provides record checks for those individuals on whom the United States Department of Defense conducts background investigations for the purposes of granting higher level security.

- The Validation Unit certifies the accuracy and status in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) files.

- Sealing Unit is responsible for sealing criminal records, as directed by court order or petitions approved by station detectives.

- Document Processing Unit (DPU) prepares, tracks reports and prisoner's release jackets. It is also responsible for reviewing work performed by the contracted imaging services vendor.

- Information Retrieval Unit (IRU) furnishes record, warrant, arrest dispositions, supplies microfilm copies, reports and release jackets to authorized agencies.

- Public Services Unit (PSU) provides walk-in services to the public and other authorized agencies. Photographs, fingerprint, and licensing services are provided for a fee. Other services include providing arrest/traffic accident reports (information available in accordance with the Public Records Act), warrant checks, and clearance letters, and processing arson and narcotic registrants.

- Registration Unit is responsible for processing arson and narcotic registrant information into an internal database. The Unit is also responsible for the coordination of Megan's Law access to the public.

 
  Management Information Services (MIS):
is responsible for the quality control of Department crime and arrest statistics; the preparation and submission of all state and federally mandated reports; the publication of the Department’s Year In Review and Annual Statistical Review, the processing of all routine and ad hoc requests for crime statistics; the maintenance and publication of the Statistical Code Guide / Radio Code Book and the Radio Channel Guide; the management of the Command Accountability Reporting System (CARS); the management of the Crime Analysis Program; and the implementation of Geographic Information System (GIS) services. Additionally, MIS is responsible for a variety of information system services / functions, including the maintenance of statistical codes, reporting districts, special unit designators and arresting agency codes.