Invitation letter

U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

National Institute of Justice

Washington, D.C. 20531

<<DATE>>

<<TITLE>><<FNAME>> <<LNAME>> <<SUFFIX>>

<<AGENCYNAME>>

<<ADDRESS>>

<<CITY, STATE ZIP>>

Dear <<TITLE>><<LNAME>>:

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) invites you to participate in a survey of State and local law enforcement agencies that maintain an automated fingerprint identification system (AFIS). This collection—the Latent Fingerprint Interoperability Survey (LFIOS)—is the only comprehensive effort that provides an ability to establish the level of interoperability of automated fingerprint identification systems maintained by State and local law enforcement agencies regarding the electronic exchange of latent fingerprint data to support criminal investigations.

This collection will enable Federal, State, local, and tribal law enforcement and government administrators; legislators; and researchers; to understand the technological and regulatory barriers affecting automated, cross-jurisdictional interoperability. Information collected in the core survey and survey addenda will provide critical data on the types and functionalities of fielded AFIS systems in State and local agencies; the current policy agreements among jurisdictions to permit the sharing, exchange, and searching of latent fingerprints electronically; and the technological and regulatory factors which impact electronic sharing, exchange, and searching of latent fingerprints across various jurisdictions at the National, State and local levels.

The survey was developed in coordination with the Latent Print AFIS Interoperability Task Force chartered by the Subcommittee on Forensic Science under the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC). This Subcommittee was created to assess the practical challenges of implementing recommendations in the 2009 National Research Council (NRC) report entitled, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward, and to advise the White House on how best to achieve the goals outlined in that report.

Although this response to this data collection is voluntary, we urgently need and appreciate your cooperation to make the results comprehensive, accurate, and timely. The results of the data collection will provide a comprehensive qualitative and quantitative basis to make specific decisions to improve interoperability related to latent fingerprints to maximize the value of this type of forensic evidence in an equitable way based on the available evidence and data. It will also help shape strategic planning at all levels of government to support research, development, testing, and evaluation of tools and technology; training; and other forms of investment for Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies.

To indicate your willingness to participate, simply respond to this email and confirm that you are the appropriate point of contact for your agency or provide an alternate point of contact. ManTech International Corporation through NIJ award 2010-IJ-CX-K024 is assisting NIJ with the survey development, survey distribution, data collection, and data analysis and reporting. Respondents will receive credentials by email to log on to the secure website to complete (1) a Core Questionnaire for both State and local agencies to complete and (2) either a State Addendum or Local Addendum with additional questions depending on your agency.

I thank you for your willingness to participate in this effort and we look forward to better understanding the interoperability of AFIS systems with respect to exchange latent prints. Through this data collection, we hope improving criminal justice practice and policy in an evidence-based manner using scientific approaches will benefit our Nation and our communities.

Very sincerely,

John H. Laub

Director, National Institute of Justice