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Focus on NCIC: Identifying the Unidentified

NCJ Number
125149
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 59 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1990) Pages: 22-24
Editor(s)
S D Gladis
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Since 1983, the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC) has provided computerized assistance in matching unidentified persons with missing persons.
Abstract
The key to successful use of the system is prompt entry of records into the NCIC's Unidentified Person File and its Missing Person File. Each night, FBI personnel conduct a cross-search of descriptive information in the two files, which yields a list of likely matches between records. The agencies that entered the missing person record and the unidentified person record each receive a complete listing of match possibilities. More complete information provides more opportunities for high quality matches and subsequent positive identifications.