The Support Operations Bureau of the Division of Criminal Investigation is a very diverse work group comprised of 29 nonsworn employees who work in the Records and Identification Unit, the Criminal History Dissemination Unit, the AFIS/ABIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification System/Automated Biometric Identification System) Unit, and the Administrative staff who perform clerical, inventory, budgeting, purchasing, and logistical functions for the entire DCI.
The Support Operations Bureau staff proudly provides behind the scenes administrative support to the DCI leadership team and the DCI Special Agents working criminal investigations in all 99 counties in Iowa. The Support Operations Bureau staff is responsible for collecting, maintaining, and providing accurate and up to date information vital to the other Divisions within the Department of Public Safety, to our local and Federal law enforcement partners and to the general public.
- Automated Biometric Identification System-Fingerprinting
As of June 18, 2019, the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) included over 862,229 10-print cards and nearly 19,287 latent prints. ABIS is available to all criminal justice agencies throughout Iowa for use in criminal investigations. During fiscal year 2018, 63,700 10-print "hits" were made via ABIS.
A 10-print card is a card usually 8” x 8” which has a permanent set of an individual’s fingerprints on it. There are 10 individual blocks, one for each finger and are numbered 1 through 10, starting with the right thumb and concluding with the left little finger. These prints, referred to as “rolled impressions”, represent each finger which must be rolled from one side of the fingernail to the other side of the fingernail. Below the 10 blocks are two blocks for printing four fingers simultaneously and two blocks for printing the thumbs. These prints are called “plain impressions” and are used to make sure that the sequences of the fingers were printed correctly in the rolled impressions.
Above the fingerprint blocks are spaces for descriptive data of the individual such as name, sex, race, height, weight, a date of birth, place of birth, social security number, arresting agency, reason for arrest, and other identifying information. There are two types of 10-print cards, one is criminal which is used when an arrest is made, and the other is civil which is used for anything other than criminal. A “hit” in ABIS occurs when a print lifted from a crime scene or a fingerprint taken at the time of arrest matches one in ABIS database. The main ABIS computer is located in DCI headquarters in Des Moines. Additionally there are seven Expert Latent terminals at criminal laboratories located throughout the state, thereby permitting easy access by Iowa law enforcement officials.
Livescan sites were introduced in FY 1999. Livescan is a method of sending required arrest fingerprint cards electronically from a police agency to the central site at DCI. There are currently 72 Livescans located throughout the state. One set of fingerprints can be rolled with as many as 99 copies being able to be printed. The addition of Livescan terminals at various locations around the state has helped expedite the process of creating and updating criminal history information maintained by the Division. In addition, there are 33 Card Scan locations throughout the state. A law enforcement agency is able to process their bookings using black printer's ink and scan the arrest card. The arrest card is then sent to the state electronically allowing the DCI to expedite the process of criminal cards from non-Livescan agencies.
Contact Fingerprints Office
Phone: 515.725.6054
Email: fpinfo@dps.state.ia.us
- Administrative Support and Transcription
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The Administrative Support section staff perform clerical, inventory, budgeting, purchasing, and logistical functions for the entire Division.
The Transcription Section transcribes dictation regarding criminal and non-criminal investigations from multiple types of media, (i.e., CD's, DVD's). The dictations are submitted by Special Agents of the DCI. The "original" transcribed cases are maintained within DCI Headquarters and date back as far as 1939. These reports are critical documents for prosecutors in criminal cases and for the Racing and Gaming Commission for the purposes of maintaining integrity in Iowa's Gaming Industry. For fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, the Transcription Section transcribed/proofed more than 2,100 pieces of dictation.
- Records and Identification
- Dissemination
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The Criminal History Record Dissemination Unit was established as a result of changes to the Code of Iowa in 1996, for the purpose of providing Iowa criminal history record information to the public. The Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is the central repository for criminal history record information for the State of Iowa. This means, by law, all arrest and disposition information (with the exception of most simple misdemeanors) is to be forwarded to the DCI by all law enforcement agencies and clerks of court in the state. The criminal history records we maintain are all supported by fingerprints for identification. Although we only require a name, date of birth and gender for a record check request, we have the ability to utilize fingerprints we maintain to verify identity when necessary. For a fee, the Criminal History Record Dissemination Unit provides Iowa criminal history record information to various entities, including businesses, schools, daycares, healthcare facilities and law enforcement agencies.
In addition to providing State of Iowa criminal history record information, the Criminal History Record Dissemination Unit also facilitates the process for organizations, not individuals, requesting fingerprint-based national criminal history record information through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Justice Information Services Division (FBI/CJIS). In order to obtain national criminal history record information through the FBI/CJIS, an organization must either obtain statutory authority through state legislation or must qualify under an established federal program with approval from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Criminal History Dissemination Unit.
- Missing Persons and Unidentified Bodies
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Missing Persons
The Missing Persons Information Clearinghouse was established July 1, 1985, within the Department of Public Safety. It provides a program for compiling, coordinating and disseminating information in relation to missing persons and unidentified body/persons. Housed within the Division of Criminal Investigation, the clearinghouse assists in helping to locate missing persons through public awareness and cooperation, and in educating law enforcement officers and the general public about missing person issues.
Missing Kids Information
Unidentified Bodies
The State of Iowa has six unidentified bodies on file. These cases have been entered into the National Crime Information Center Computer System for possible matches against the missing person file. However, if the individual has never been entered as missing by any agency there will be no match. The purpose of placing these cases on the DPS website, is to reach a more diverse audience that might have knowledge about the identity of any one of these individuals.