Fingerprinting – Down the Ages

Biometrics is the order of the day; the digital era. Digital face recognition and fingerprint identification are popularly used as the industry standard for personal identification. In fact, fingerprints captured and transmitted through Live Scan, Los Angeles are not only used to solve criminal cases, but also used by employers for background check of prospective employees. Most employers now conduct fingerprint based background check to keep criminal and civil offenders away from the workplace.

History of Fingerprinting

Well, although digital fingerprinting systems have come in vogue only in the last decade, the roots of the idea date back to hundreds and thousands of years. Paintings and sculptures in ancient caves are often signed off with hand prints for identification. What’s more, the Babylonians recorded business transactions on clay tablets with fingerprints, back in 500 BC. Soon after, the Chinese merchants recognized the need to record business transactions forfurther action, if any. Remarkably, the Chinese also recorded their children’s footprints and fingerprints as a means for recognition. However, evolution demanded more technological advancements. People began travelling and business transactions started crossing physical boundaries after the Industrial Revolution in the 1800’s. Personal identification of people entering into business transactions, therefore, became mandatory. Clay tablets and others were used to capture fingerprints, as it was the only identification unique to every person.

Soon after, the courts began to codify concepts for justice. The justice system was designed in a way that first time offences were handled leniently. Offenders were punished harshly on the repetition of the offense. The justice system therefore, required recording of the offender’s offences. This is when fingerprintingsaw its use by the law for personal identification of criminals.

Soon, fingerprints were used by police departments. The records could be retrieved for personal identification, as and when required.

However, this era was not the digital era. Fingers were dipped into ink and prints were recorded on a card, which could be used for future reference.

The Live Scan Era

However, advancements in computer processing gave birth to Live Scan. Fingerprints are scanned electronically, which are then transmitted to the DOJ and FBI for retrieval of criminal records possessed by them. Captured fingerprints are screened with the FBI’s extensive database. Results are returned to the requesting agency. They are highly confidential in nature and not shared with anyone else. Thanks to these advancements, whether a person has a criminal record or not is checked quickly and decisions are promptly taken. Live scan results are not only quick, but also more reliable, as the prints are free form the shortcomings of inappropriate pressure while printing, blur prints, matching errors and greater time consumption.

However, live scan centers are authorized by the DOJ. Moreover, appropriate customer service, sufficient knowledge and skills are essential. Anshin Mobile Notary & Live Scan assures customers of all these, and is therefore, one of the popular centers in Los Angeles.

For further details, contact them at www.anshinotary.com