Live scan fingerprinting refers to both the technique and the technology used by law enforcement agencies and private facilities to capture fingerprints and palm prints electronically, without the need for the more traditional method of ink and paper.[1]
In the United States, most law enforcement agencies use live scan as their primary tool in the recognition of human individuals. Live scan is commonly used for criminal booking, sexual offender registration, civil applicant and background check.
In the UK, many major police custody suites are now equipped with Live Scan machines, which allow for suspects' fingerprints to be instantly compared with a national database, IDENT1, with results usually reported in less than ten minutes.
Live scan package includes a PC workstation (desktop or laptop), a fingerprint capture device, a digital camera and a signature pad. The product and technology have been around for over twenty years.