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There are three levels of criminal history records. FBI criminal history records are maintained in a database called the Interstate Identification Index (III). A criminal history record is established when a fingerprint card is provided to the FBI from the contributing state. If an agency does not fingerprint the individual or does not submit the fingerprints to the state, the arrest/conviction information will not be in the database.
III is an automated index on persons with criminal records. III provides access to FBI identification segments and criminal records. A single state agency in each state is responsible for providing the state’s records. For states without the ability to provide records for III, the FBI will provide the information from its automated files. Criminal justice agencies can use this information for law enforcement purposes; e.g. criminal investigations, bond setting, charging determinations, sentencing and criminal justice employment. Criminal records obtained through III cannot be used for licensing or employment purposes. Additionally, the III is not to be used for accessing a record to be reviewed and/or challenged by the subject of the record. Record requests for this purpose must be submitted either directly to the FBI Identification Division, or the state of record.” III queries can be made for gun licensing if required by State Statute or local ordinance.
The FBI maintains criminal fingerprint cards on over 34 million individuals; of these, over 29 million are indexed in III. Persons born prior to 1956 may not be part of III. However, if the individual was arrested for the first time on or after July 1, 1974, he or she will be part of III regardless of year of birth. Furthermore, a number of older records have been added to the automated system based on various criteria established by the FBI. To have a record, a fingerprint card must have been submitted to the FBI. In addition there may be records maintained at the local or state level for which arrest fingerprint cards are not on file with the FBI. When an individual reaches the age of 99 the III record is removed. With all FBI criminal history manual searches an individual's record is removed if the individual was born prior to 1929.
III is changing the management of the country's criminal history records systems from a centralized database managed by the FBI to a decentralized system where the detailed record information resides in the states. The III index points to the criminal history record residing either in the FBI or the particular state(s) holding the information. This decentralized system promotes the use of state records, which are more complete, and reduces the FBI workload in maintaining and disseminating the records. Not all states are III participants. In December 1999, Wisconsin became a participating III State and began contributing Criminal History Records to the Interstate Identification Index. These records are based on arrest fingerprint cards submitted by arresting agencies within the state. All records with an arrest date after 11-01-99 will be the responsibility of the Wisconsin Crime Information Bureau.
III can benefit an agency in several ways. Prior to the entry of a warrant or missing person record, a III check can provide additional information on the subject. This information (aliases, scars, dates of birth, social security numbers) should be added to the warrant and missing person record entries. Criminal records can provide leads as to the whereabouts of an individual.
Agencies are encouraged to adopt a policy of routinely running criminal history checks on any individual arrested or taken into custody. Queries will result in an agency learning of previous arrests. Prior to using any information received from III, agencies must determine that the individual identified in the segment or record is the same person inquired upon.
FBI Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System
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