Occ. Code 2512410
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FINGERPRINT EXAMINER 1, GRADE 8 |
2512410 |
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FINGERPRINT EXAMINER 2, GRADE 11 |
2512400 |
New York State Department of Civil Service
Classification Standard
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF CLASS SERIES
Fingerprint Examiners exist within the Division of Criminal Justice Services Office of Criminal Justice Operations and are responsible for a variety of tasks associated with the fingerprint identification process.
Fingerprint Examiners 1 perform pattern assignment, pattern entry, and image quality assurance checks on both paper and digital fingerprint images that are submitted to the Division of Criminal Justice Services for criminal history background checks on prospective applicants for employment, licensing, or on those individuals that are arrested and incarcerated.
Fingerprint Examiners 2 analyze, compare, verify, and validate paper and digital fingerprint images. Fingerprint Examiners 2 work closely with Fingerprint Examiners 1 and other clerical positions in their assigned unit and organize and review the work of the unit.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
FINGERPRINT EXAMINERS 1: are classified based on their performance of clerical and technical tasks using the Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System (SAFIS). Incumbents perform preparatory work which leads to the comparison, verification, and validation phases of the fingerprint identification process performed by the Fingerprint Examiner 2.
Fingerprint Examiners 1 may also provide guidance to the lower-level clerical staff in a variety of tasks regarding specific procedures in the acquisition of fingerprint images such as: the key entry of fingerprint patterns into formatted computer screens; the key entry of transactional information; and quality control.
FINGERPRINT EXAMINERS 2: perform technical tasks associated with the identification of individuals through fingerprint analysis, comparison, evaluation, and verification. They may also supervise staff. These positions are classified based on their performance of special technical activities, including but not limited to: assessing the quality of inked and rolled, and digitized fingerprint impressions; assigning fingerprint classification patterns; using different automated tools on the Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System (SAFIS) workstations to compare fingerprint images and make identification determinations; and validating identification determinations made by others. A Fingerprint Examiner 2 uses a SAFIS workstation and compares fingerprints to determine identifications and non‑identifications.
Fingerprint Examiners 2, acting in a supervisory capacity, may direct the activities of Fingerprint Examiners 1 and lower-level clerical staff in a variety of tasks regarding specific procedures in the acquisition of fingerprint images using SAFIS technology; the key entry of fingerprint patterns into formatted computer screens; the key entry of transactional information; and quality control activities. They may also supervise subordinates who assign and affix processing labels, code and edit data, and check the quality of computer output.
RELATED CLASSES
Latent Fingerprint Examiners 1 use latent automated fingerprint identification systems and fingerprint cards to identify latent fingerprints retrieved from crime scenes and from unidentified bodies. They use digital imaging equipment to capture, enhance, and manage active latent fingerprint cases. Latent Fingerprint Examiners 2 supervise Latent Fingerprint Examiners 1.
Identification Specialists 1 supervise a staff consisting of Fingerprint Examiners and other clerical support positions engaged in the process of attempting to identify input criminal and civil fingerprint transactions, both inked and rolled and digital, against the fingerprints of persons stored in SAFIS base files. The purpose of the fingerprint identification process is to attempt to associate the subjects of input fingerprint transactions with criminal history records maintained by DCJS as the state repository for such information.
ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES
FINGERPRINT EXAMINER 1
Performs first level pattern assignment, pattern entry, and image quality assurance using SAFIS to ensure the integrity of the data used in the fingerprint identification search routines as well as the records that will be updated as a result of these processes.
· Acquires and manipulates fingerprint images using SAFIS.
· Reviews the quality of fingerprint images and rejects those that do not meet quality standards.
· Reviews fingerprint submissions to detect the presence of hands that are improperly recorded as left and right, or fingerprint impressions that are recorded out of sequence.
· Performs all of the tasks associated with fingerprint image: quality, pattern recognition, and entry using the SAFIS system.
· Reviews FBI criminal history record reports and compares them with DCJS reports to detect data discrepancies; and performs corrective action if necessary to ensure that State and Federal records are consistent.
· Consolidates multiple and duplicative individual criminal history records.
· Prepares and corrects data associated with juvenile records to ensure that it is consistent with agency policy, procedure, and standards.
· Communicates with contributing agencies regarding questionable or special fingerprint transactions.
· Communicates with computer operations staff and the customer contact center to report and resolve SAFIS operational problems.
· Serves as a resource to lower level staff performing clerical functions associated with the identification process.
FINGERPRINT EXAMINER 2
May perform or provide oversight of any of the duties listed above for the Fingerprint Examiner 1.
· Processes and compares fingerprints from criminal justice and other authorized agencies to satisfy the requirements of local laws and State and Federal statutes.
· Performs highly technical fingerprint comparisons using the automated tools of the SAFIS verification terminal to adjust digitized fingerprint images to individual visual preferences. Finds points of identification (minutia) which are common to both the source and search candidate fingerprint impressions. This is referred to as verification. After viewing the fingerprint images, a Fingerprint Examiner 2 must declare the fingerprints to be an identification or a non‑identification, or must render a no‑decision. At the conclusion of verification another Fingerprint Examiner 2 must validate the decision of the first Fingerprint Examiner 2.
· Monitors high priority criminal fingerprint input and expedites processing when necessary.
· Using automated search routines, locates specific criminal and civil fingerprint submissions in various phases of identification processing and expedites processing when necessary.
· Reads and interprets arrest, arraignment, case disposition, and corrections data found on criminal history record reports. Answers questions posed by internal and client agency staff regarding elements of criminal history record reports.
· Flags confidential data that must be suppressed from routine responses to client agencies, or that may only be released under certain circumstances.
· Prepares/edits information to be updated to base files.
· Determines the factors contributing to late responses, and documents them for analysis.
· Uses specialized software to reject and restart elapsed processing time calculations in connection with problem fingerprint submissions.
· Re‑examines fingerprint submissions that are of poor quality and notifies contributors by phone regarding appropriate corrective action.
· Assists in the performance of tests of network lines for signal loss or background noise that would interfere with facsimile or digital fingerprint transmissions.
· Documents and reports to superiors all daily activities for statistical and analytical purposes, and reports problems or other unusual circumstances.
· Notifies contributors of the processing status of criminal and civil fingerprint submissions upon request.
· Communicates directly with contributing agencies, either orally or in writing, regarding questionable or special fingerprint transactions.
· Contacts contributing agencies to request corrective action on fingerprint and other criminal justice documents.
· Responds to telephone calls from client agencies that are either seeking assistance with fingerprint transactions problems or criminal history record reports, or are requesting forms or other materials.
· Tracks documents through the processing system to ensure that responses are prepared and disseminated within response time objectives.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Fingerprint Examiners 2 may or may not supervise. When acting in a supervisory role they will oversee the activities of lower-level staff in the assigned unit regarding work associated with data entry, quality control, file maintenance, file rectification, fingerprint pattern assignment, and aspects of special processing. Fingerprint Examiners 2 may: provide training to new Fingerprint Examiners 1 and clerical staff on various identification processes and procedures; review the work of subordinates; make recommendations regarding training; and confer with other supervisory personnel regarding mutual processing problems.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
FINGERPRINT EXAMINER 1
Promotion: One year of permanent competitive service as a Grade 6 or higher.
FINGERPRINT EXAMINER 2
Promotion: One year of permanent competitive service as a Fingerprint Examiner 1, Grade 8.
Date: 8/06
NOTE: Classification Standards illustrate the nature, extent and scope of duties and responsibilities of the classes they describe. Standards cannot and do not include all of the work that might be appropriately performed by a class. The minimum qualifications above are those which were required for appointment at the time the Classification Standard was written. Please contact the Division of Staffing Services for current information on minimum qualification requirements for appointment or examination.