The Legacy of the FBI NGI System
The NGI System is managed out of the Clarksburg division. This secure campus, three hours west of Washington, D.C., serves as the hub for the vast database that has revolutionized the way fingerprints are used in criminal investigations.
The celebration marked the establishment of the FBI’s Identification Division on July 1, 1924, which consolidated 810,000 fingerprint files from various sources, including the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas, and the National Bureau of Criminal Identification.
Evolution of Fingerprint Technology
Director Wray detailed the historical significance of fingerprint technology in criminal investigations, stating, “I’m proud that we’ve maintained that focus on growing our capabilities, because there’s simply no other way to remain as effective as a law enforcement and intelligence agency when the threats are as dynamic and evolving as they are today.”
He also highlighted new biometric modalities, such as facial recognition, palm prints, and iris scans, which will enhance the FBI’s future capabilities. For example, NGI’s National Iris Service enables non-contact enrollment of iris images, linking them to corresponding fingerprint records.
