North Carolina Selects Printrak for Statewide Leading-Edge Fingerprint ID System.

ANAHEIM, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 1999--Printrak International Inc. (NASDAQ:AFIS), the leader in integrated livescan (inkless) fingerprint technology, Wednesday announced an order valued at $2.2 million for livescan fingerprint capture workstations from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI).

This order brings the total to 89 Printrak LiveScan Stations in that state, which previously deployed the systems to county and municipal police departments and the North Carolina Department of Correction. The North Carolina statewide automated fingerprint identification system (SAFIS) is expected to reach over 100 livescan units, all linked to a central Printrak AFIS in Raleigh. Printrak introduced real-time identification in 1994 and now leads the industry with more statewide systems than any other AFIS company.

The Printrak LiveScan Station electronically captures fingerprints and arrest data. Printrak's real-time identification systems provide positive identification in minutes compared with other systems that require hours or even days to perform an identity search. Printrak's real-time identification capability prevents the release of wanted persons using aliases. North Carolina officials expect the system to help them apprehend and detain criminals quickly and efficiently.

"A goal of the North Carolina Criminal Justice Information Network is to immediately and positively identify individuals, both criminals and civil applicants, in less than two hours from the point of fingerprinting," said Larry Wilkie, SAFIS manager, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

Local agencies capture fingerprints at booking stations and electronically transmit images to the statewide AFIS database for a real-time check for any prior criminal record. The Department of Correction and Charlotte/Mecklenburg Court Services search fingerprints against the SAFIS database using Printrak input and verification stations. In addition, the Department of Correction uses fingerprint data for positive identification of inmates at various stages of the criminal justice process.

"We also want to make electronic fingerprint capture technology accessible in all of North Carolina's 100 counties. The continued acquisition of electronic fingerprint capture devices is allowing the state to move forward and meet this objective," Wilkie added.

Civilian agencies are required by state law to conduct background checks as a condition of employment in such occupations as teaching, healthcare and childcare. Printrak's statewide AFIS livescan workstations are being used as a part of this process. Real-time AFIS prevents persons with criminal records from being employed in these occupations. Fingerprint searches are also required for concealed handgun permits.

Company Information

Printrak International (www.printrakinternational.com) is a leading worldwide supplier of integrated identification and information systems used in public safety applications and civil applications such as national I.D. programs. In the public safety sector, Printrak's Digital Justice Solution(TM) provides networked fingerprint, photo imaging, computer-aided dispatch and automated records management systems. Printrak's civil systems prevent identity fraud and provide the identification infrastructure required for commercial fingerprint biometric applications. The company's systems serve approximately 700 national, state, county and municipal agencies in 36 countries.