The FBI's NGI System: Advancing Biometric Identification for Justice and Security

 

Securing Communities: How NGI System's Services Protect Americans

The FBI’s Next-Generation Identification (NGI) System was developed to enhance the bureau’s biometric identification capabilities and replace the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) while adding new services and capabilities.

     The NGI team introduces two new services: Rap Back and the Interstate Photo System (IPS). Rap Back allows authorized entities to receive ongoing status notifications regarding the criminal history of individuals in positions of trust, such as schoolteachers. This service greatly enhances the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies, and protects all of us, including our children.

     A prime example of Rap Back protecting children occurred in a small town, where a dedicated schoolteacher named Emily was entrusted with the education and well-being of her students. Unbeknownst to the community, Emily had a hidden past, with prior criminal activities that had gone undetected during her employment screening. However, thanks to the implementation of the NGI System's Rap Back service, Emily's ongoing criminal history was continuously monitored.

     One day, the Rap Back system alerted the school administration and law enforcement agencies about a recent incident involving Emily. It turned out that she was involved in an illegal drug operation. Swift action was taken, and Emily was promptly apprehended, preventing any harm from befalling the students under her care.

     Like Rap Back, the IPS facial recognition service came in useful to helping humankind. It gave an unfortunate family closure involving their missing loved one. In 2019, in Washington County, Oregon, it was utilized to solve a cold case that had remained unsolved for decades. The case involved the mysterious disappearance of a young girl in 1986.

     Using IPS, investigators compared photographs of the missing girl with a database of images containing various sources, including public records and law enforcement databases. The facial recognition algorithm identified a potential match when comparing an old photo of the missing girl with a driver's license photo of a woman who had assumed a different identity.

     Further investigation and DNA testing confirmed the woman's true identity, leading to her arrest. It was revealed that she had been living under a stolen identity for years. Thanks to the IPS facial recognition service, authorities were able to link the woman to the cold case and bring closure to the family after decades of uncertainty.

     The NGI System has been deployed in phases, with phase one launched in February 2011. Since then, it has introduced various enhancements such as automated fingerprint and latent search capabilities, mobile fingerprint identification, and electronic image storage. The system also offers improved processing speed and automation for the exchange of fingerprints, serving over 18,000 law enforcement agencies and authorized criminal justice partners continuously throughout the year.

     It is a significant advancement in biometric identification and investigative capabilities for the FBI and the broader criminal justice community. In fact, the CIA is linked into the system, and I wrote about the FBI's Next Generation Identification (NGI) System in the MISSION OF VENGEANCE spy thriller.

     Just as in real life, I wrote about how it serves as a vital tool in the quest for justice. In the story, CIA spymaster Corey Pearson and his counterintelligence team engaged in a high-stakes game of espionage. They meticulously captured photographs of the countless Russian tourists arriving in the Dominican Republic each year. These images, capturing their activities at airports, hotels, and idyllic beaches, find their way into the NGI system—a comprehensive digital repository housing fingerprints, DNA profiles, iris scans, palm prints, voice identification profiles, and facial photographs.

     As the NGI system processed the data, it diligently sifted through the multitude of innocent Russian vacationers, flagging only a select few. Among the sea of visitors, the NGI system's discerning algorithms exposed the true identities of individuals hidden behind the facade of leisure.

     Unveiling the shadows, it revealed the presence of FSB and GRU spies, sinister elements masquerading amidst the unsuspecting tourists. With NGI as their ally, Corey Pearson and his team embarked on their mission of vengeance, armed with the power of identification and justice.

     The FBI's Next-Generation Identification (NGI) System stands as a powerful safeguard, tirelessly protecting Americans and their loved ones. Through its innovative services like Rap Back and the Interstate Photo System (IPS), the NGI system has proven instrumental in uncovering hidden threats and bringing closure to unresolved mysteries.

     One instance where Rap Back served as a guardian of our children unfolded in a small town, where an unsuspecting schoolteacher named Emily harbored a dark past. Fortunately, the NGI system's vigilant monitoring of Emily's criminal history alerted authorities to her involvement in an illegal drug operation. Swift action was taken, ensuring the safety of the students under her care and demonstrating the indispensable role played by Rap Back in safeguarding our communities.

     Meanwhile, the IPS facial recognition service demonstrated its potential in providing closure and justice to a grieving family. In a long-standing cold case, the system's comparison of photographs helped identify a woman living under a stolen identity. Through further investigation and DNA testing, the woman's true identity was revealed, ultimately leading to her arrest and bringing decades of uncertainty to an end.

     The NGI System, deployed since 2011, continues to evolve and enhance its capabilities. From automated fingerprint and latent search capabilities to mobile fingerprint identification and electronic image storage, it empowers over 18,000 law enforcement agencies and criminal justice partners year-round. As depicted in the thrilling world of MISSION OF VENGEANCE, the NGI System serves as an indispensable tool in the pursuit of justice, assisting intelligence agencies like the CIA in unraveling complex mysteries and identifying hidden enemies.

     With the NGI system's ability to penetrate the shadows, exposing spies and criminals masquerading amidst innocent tourists, its impact on safeguarding national security is undeniable. Through its comprehensive biometric identification capabilities, it arms law enforcement and intelligence agencies with the vital information needed to carry out their mission of protection and retribution.    

Robert Morton is a member of the Association of Former Intelligence Officers (AFIO) and enjoys writing about the U.S. Intelligence Community. He authors the Corey Pearson- CIA Spymaster series. Check out his latest spy thrillers: MISSION OF VENGEANCE.