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Images with Live Scan

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Mugshot Images for the Law Enforcement community

Who can access images and how?
What is CCIS?
Why are law enforcement agencies required to submit images with arrest records?
How can our agency buy a Live Scan?
We have Live Scan. What do we need to do to submit mugshots?
What kind of camera should I buy?
Is this effort being funded in any way?
When do we send the images and how many do we submit?
How do I submit images with ink cards (for adults or juveniles)?
What standards should our agency follow for the submission of images?
Can I send images from my mugshot image or records/jail management system?
Am I required to submit images with applicants?
Did this legislative change originate from VSP?
Who do I contact if I have more questions?
List of changes in this document

The information on this page is subject to change. Please check back and click "refresh" on your browser window or press F5 on your keyboard to see the most recent version of this page.

How do we access the images at VSP?

Law enforcement agencies in Virginia are eligible to access the system. Please have your agency administrator fill out the form located here if you would like to have access to the system. The system is web-based and once your agency is approved, you will be given instructions to access it.

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What is CCIS?

Centralized Criminal Image System (CCIS) is a system that allows criminal justice users to access images for identification purposes as well as perform lineups, witness sessions and facial recognition searches.

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Why are law enforcement agencies required to submit images with arrest records?

As a result of action taken (HB 2632) during the 2005 General Assembly, effective January 1, 2006, Section 19.2-390, Code of Virginia was amended to require law enforcement agencies making reports to the CCRE to include a photograph of the individual arrested along with the fingerprints with its report.

IMPLICATIONS OF THE AMENDED SECTION EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2006: Section 19.2-390, Code of Virginia, will require the submission of a photo, along with the fingerprints, of all persons arrested on or after January 1, 2006, for crimes reportable to CCRE.

More information about HB 2632 can be found at the Virginia General Assembly/Legislative Information website: http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?051+ful+CHAP0187

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How can our agency buy a Live Scan?

Agencies that currently submit ink prints for adult arrests are highly encouraged to obtain Live Scan. The prices of VSP-certified Live Scan equipment and maintenance have reduced by more than 60% since 1994 and funding may be available for certain agencies. For more information, click here. To obtain a Live Scan equipment price list, click here.

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We have Live Scan. What do we need to do to submit mugshots?

IDS has the capability to submit images to VSP.

Following are the steps an agency with an IDS Live Scan will take to be able to submit mugshots with the arrest records to VSP:

1. Purchase a camera: To obtain a list of mugshot equipment prices from ID Networks, click here.
      Click here for step-by-step purchasing instructions.
2. Install camera on IDS PC:

SONY EVI	Agencies may procure Sony EVI camera installation from ID Networks. If the agency does not procure installation (not recommended), the agency can contact VSP for some assistance installing the Sony EVI camera. If the agency cannot install the camera on their own and requires on-site assistance the agency may contract with ID Networks for installation. Sony EVI cameras NOT installed by ID Networks will need a video capture card to be installed in the PC. Contact VSP for instructions or more information about the video capture card installation.
CANON POWERSHOT	Installation document, in PDF format (NOTE: not supported by the current version of IDS software)
OTHER CAMERA	If the agency uses a camera other than a Sony EVI series or Canon Powershot series (not recommended), the agency may follow the camera's instructions for installation on the IDS PC. VSP will offer as much assistance as possible if needed - contact VSP if necessary.

3. VSP configures IDS to send images: When the agency has IDS software installed and has either installed a camera at IDS Live Scan or completed an interface from another system, Contact VSP to have the IDS system configured. A test is also sent at this time.
4. (Optional) Interface: Please see the section titled Can I send images from my mugshot image or records/jail management system? for more information about interfacing an existing system that captures digital images with IDS.

NOTE: It is recommended that agencies keep a digital camera at the Live Scan in case an interface does not work.

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What kind of camera should I buy?

Live Scan Submissions: The SONY EVI is the only camera that will work with new installations of IDS. Agencies are also encouraged to contact their mugshot image and/or records or jail management system vendors to discuss integrating their existing data systems with IDS. It is recommended that a digital camera be available as a backup in case any existing data link between a mugshot image system and/or a records or jail management system fails as the agency will continue submitting arrests from Live Scan.

• SONY EVI 70/EVI 100    The Sony EVI series of cameras (models 70 and 100) is the most robust and user friendly camera series available. The auto-focus and keyboard controls of this pan/tilt/zoom camera make it the easiest to use for a multitude of reasons. And while this camera is a bit more expensive than the alternatives, it will enable the operator to take better pictures more easily. When purchased from ID Networks, this camera kit will also include the necessary cables and the Integral PCI Video Capture Card. If purchased elsewhere, the agency must buy the Video Capture Card from ID Networks. Click here to visit the Sony website for more information about the Sony EVI series of cameras.

NOTE TO AGENCIES THAT HAVE PURCHASED A SONY EVI CAMERA FROM CROSSMATCH: You will need to purchase a video capture card from ID Networks. Please contact VSP if this is your situation and you have not already received an e-mail from VSP about this.

• CANON POWERSHOT A95/A520 (Unsupported by the current version of IDS):   Some Canon Powershot cameras were supported in previous versions of the IDS software. These cameras have a built in flash and are less expensive than the Sony, but the disadvantage is that some functionality will be lost (such as a real-time display of certain zoom ratios as well as a slight video delay). The price and easy of installation does make these cameras a more attractive option for those agencies with poor lighting and less technical expertise. IDS was tested with the A95 and the A520 because of their price points and features. If your agency happens to own one of these models or the ones below and would like to use it with a new installation of IDS, ID Networks can try to help.

Other Canon digital cameras previously supported by IDS:

• PowerShot G6, G5, G3, G2, G1
• PowerShot Pro1, S2 IS, S1 IS, Pro90 IS
• PowerShot S70, S60, S50, S45, S40, S30, S20, S10
• PowerShot S500, S410, S400, S330, S300, S230, S200, S110, S100
• PowerShot SD500, SD400, SD300, SD200, SD110, SD100, SD20, SD10
• PowerShot A95, A85, A80, A75, A70, A60, A40, A30, A20
• PowerShot A520, A510, A400, A310, A300, A200, A100

• NOT RECOMMENDED    The final option (not recommended) is to use any digital camera that interfaces with a PC. This option means the operator will have to take the images, download them to the computer, then import them into the software before sending them to VSP.

Non-Live Scan (manual, mailed ink) Submissions: It is not recommended to use a Polariod camera to take images as this medium provides perhaps the worst possible image quality. Please use a digital or film camera where possible.

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Is this effort being funded in any way?

For agencies that receive funding from the State Compensation Board: The SCB has notified agencies by e-mail regarding approved funding. For information, contact your SCB representative. For agencies that receive funding from the Department of Criminal Justice Services - please contact your DCJS representative.

Regardless of the funding source, it is the agency's responsibility to comply with this legislative change.

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When do we send the images and how many do we submit?

The images must be submitted with the fingerprints whether or not the agency uses Live Scan. If using Live Scan, the images must be submitted with the fingerprints from Live Scan (in the same transaction). IDS has the capability to perform this function. If mailing in ink fingerprints, the images must be submitted in the same envelope with the fingerprint card.

One image is required: a full frontal facial image. VSP will take the one facial image by mail with ink fingerprint cards for mailed arrests. For Live Scan, VSP will take all images for each arrest - up to 99 per arrest.

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How do I submit images with ink cards (for adults or juveniles)?

Live Scan forms are available on this page. There are two identical versions of the manual mugshot image submission form to be used by agencies that do not have Live Scan or for juvenile arrests. Instructions are listed on the form. In addition to a PDF format, a version of the form has been provided in Microsoft Word format so that agencies may drag/drop an image to the form in Word and print the form with the image (special thanks for this idea goes to Senior Officer Tim Carroll of Salem Police Department). Please ensure that the image is as far in the upper-left corner of the page as possible.

Mug images MUST be submitted with the fingerprints and not separately.

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What standards should our agency follow for the submission of images?

VSP has published the VSP Person Image Requirements and Standards located here. All agencies must ensure that the following elements are correct:

• POSE
• DEPTH OF FIELD
• CENTERING
• LIGHTING*
• BACKGROUND**

* LIGHTING: Please click here for a suggested guide to setting up lighting (from an imaging system vendor's literature). The lighting section (pages 2 to 4) describes an optimum lighting solution, however there is no requirement to use this setup. The agency must determine the appropriate lighting for their environment. Except for the background,** it is generally preferred to have light-colored walls to reflect as much available light in the room, and fluorescent lighting provides adequate lighting. If the agency chooses to follow the guide referenced here, lighting fixtures can be purchased from companies such as Morlite http://www.morlitesystems.com/ and it is recommended to purchase lights with polycarbonate lenses [1/8" prismatic acrylic inside and #3 (1/4") clear poly on environment side]. One such light is the CH-89 model which offers four degrees of security.

Non-Live Scan (manual, mailed ink) Submissions: In order to lessen restrictions so that agencies may easily comply with the requirement on January 1, 2006, beyond the agency-controlled BPR elements listed above, there are only a few special requirements that VSP is making for the printed image.

• Minimum/maximum sizes (listed on the manual mugshot submission form located here)
• The image must be in full color
• The image must be a frontal facial image
• The image must not contain any identifying information such as that which would appear on a mugshot information card (name, date of birth, SSN, etc.)

Live Scan Submissions: IDS will have the capability to prepare images correctly regarding the following BPR and other elements:

• EXPOSURE
• ASPECT RATIO
• MINIMUM NUMBER OF PIXELS
• COLORSPACE
• PIXEL ASPECT RATIO
• COMPRESSION ALGORITHM
• FILE FORMAT
• The image must not contain any identifying information such as that which would appear on a mugshot information card (name, date of birth, SSN, etc.)

The agency must ensure the elements listed for all agencies (pose...background above) are correct. Please see the VSP Person Image Requirements and Standards located here for more information.

There may be more requirements in the future.

SAMPLE IMAGES: See some samples of mugshot images here.

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Can I send images from my mugshot image or records/jail management system (RMS/JMS/MS)?

Live Scan Submissions: VSP is working on a data standard for the submission of images from an RMS/JMS/MS to IDS. Agencies that use an interface to transfer data and images from an RMS/JMS/MS must conform to this standard, however due to time constraints we are allowing the following possible configurations to occur until July 1, 2007:

1. IDS may use a shared directory on the RMS/JMS/MS to retrieve the image(s). When the operator is booking an individual on IDS, they will import the image from this file location. From the operator point of view, there are a few more steps in this operation than if the full interface (as outlined in the VSP Live Scan Interface Specification) is provided, however it is a relatively quickly-implemented solution. One consideration when using this option is time: the time to retrieve images may become longer as the number of images within a directory increases. In other words, the more images there are in a directory the longer it will take to preview/retrieve them. This option does not require special programming on either IDS or the RMS/JMS/MS end but does require an individual with knowledge of the agency’s network to create a share on the directory containing images on the RMS/JMS/MS.
2. The RMS/JMS/MS may transfer images to a directory on IDS. When the operator is booking an individual on IDS, they will import images from the directory on IDS where the file is put. This directory is specified in the VSP Live Scan Interface Specification. Like the above solution, this can be done fairly quickly with a minimum of programming. Unlike the above solution, images are deleted from this directory once they are used, so import time does not degrade due to directory size.

In this option, the VSP Live Scan Interface Specification is needed only to view the location of the IDS directory. A utility that would automatically transfer the files to the IDS directory is needed.

3. The RMS/JMS/MS may transfer the images to a directory on IDS with a demographics file (VSP Live Scan Interface Specification required) containing very little image-specific information. This option is available until July 1, 2007 as an interim solution to allow agencies currently using the VSP Live Scan Interface Specification-compliant interface to also send images with demographics on January 1, 2006. This option would allow the minimum of programming to include the image file name(s) and any other image-specific information (in the VSP Specification) with the current demographics file without having to comply with the full VSP Live Scan Interface Specification by January 1, 2006.

NOTE: If an interface includes demographics files as specified in the VSP Live Scan Interface Specification, a demographics interface file MUST BE SUBMITTED TO VSP BY EMAIL BEFORE AN AGENCY BEGINS USING THE INTERFACE AND AT ANY TIME A CHANGE IS MADE TO THE FILE. This is to verify that the information is being correctly generated.

4. The RMS/JMS/MS may transfer the images to a directory on IDS with a demographics file containing full VSP Live Scan Interface Specification-compliant information. This option would be the best for the agency and for VSP as it would require less keying of information and greater integrity of data. This option requires more programming as per the VSP Live Scan Interface Specification. For systems that send data to IDS, this option is required beginning July 1, 2007.

NOTE: If an interface includes demographics files as specified in the VSP Live Scan Interface Specification, a demographics interface file MUST BE SUBMITTED TO VSP BY EMAIL BEFORE AN AGENCY BEGINS USING THE INTERFACE AND AT ANY TIME A CHANGE IS MADE TO THE FILE. This is to verify that the information is being correctly generated.

All scenarios above will require that the IDS system and the RMS/JMS/MS be linked in some manner; which method used depends on your current network configuration. Agencies that currently send demographic data from a system to the Live Scan may disregard this statement as this link already exists, and agencies that plan to use a camera to take the image from Live Scan may also disregard this statement as there is no need to link the systems.

For a copy of the VSP Live Scan Interface Specification and/or if your agency is interested in interfacing your RMS/JMS/MS with IDS, please contact VSP to determine what changes will need to be made to your network. The act of interfacing any system with IDS, making changes to a current interface as well as the network configuration that exists on the agency's side of the Nortel Contivity box or the router that goes to VSP are the responsibility of the agency. A beneficial partner in a project such as this is the agency’s network administrator, so please include that person’s contact information when sending an e-mail.

Both scenarios above will require that the IDS system and the RMS/JMS or mugshot image system be linked in some manner. Agencies that currently send demographic data from a system to the Live Scan may disregard this information as this already exists, and agencies that plan to use a camera to take the image from Live Scan may also disregard this information as there is no need to link the systems. Interfacing any system with IDS and the network configuration that exists on the agency's side of the Nortel Contivity box or the State Police Router are the responsibility of the agency. IDS’ vendor, ID Networks, can also provide a mechanism to export the images in IDS to another system (mugshot, RMS).

Non-Live Scan (manual, mailed ink) Submissions: VSP must receive the image with the fingerprints. The image may be electronic but must be printed and mailed with the fingerprints. See this topic for more information.

Please ask your mugshot image or records/jail management system vendor to contact us for further information regarding the interface requirements.

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Click here for a list of agencies that are currently submitting mugshots to VSP through Live Scan.

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Am I required to submit images with applicants?

No. Images are currently required only for criminal arrests and Sex Offender registrations (SOR). Unfortunately, we are currently unable to receive SOR transactions electronically.

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Did this legislative change originate with VSP?

No. VSP is also required to comply with this change and make changes to processing to accomodate it.

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Who do I contact if I have more questions?

Please use this form to contact VSP about mugshots.

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List of changes in this document

Date	Change
2005-10-24	Initially published
2005-11-01	In What kind of camera should I buy? OLD: While any Powershot model should work, IDS has specifically been tested with the A95 and the A510 because of their price points (the low-end model is available from Staples for about $149) and features. NEW: While any Powershot model should work (the low-end A400 model is available from Staples for about $149), IDS has specifically been tested with the A95 and the A510 because of their price points and features.
2005-11-01	In Can I send images from my mugshot image or records/jail management system (RMS/JMS)? Added information about transferring images to IDS.
2005-11-01	In What standards should our agency follow for the submission of images? Added this requirement to both manual and Live Scan submissions: The image must not contain any identifying information such as that which would appear on a mugshot information card (name, date of birth, SSN, etc.)
2005-11-01	In Is this effort being funded in any way? Edited to include current information.
2005-11-03	Added NOTE to What kind of camera should I buy? about agencies that purchased a Sony EVI camera from Cross Match.
2005-11-03	Added VSP Forum link to Who do I contact if I have more questions?
2005-11-04	Added this note to What kind of camera should I buy?: NEWS FROM CANON 11/3/05: Canon Powershot models S80, SD550, SD450, SD30, A620, A610 and A410 will NOT work with the IDS software at this time but it is expected they will in the future. This announcement has caused VSP to highly recommend buying only the A95 and A510 models that have been proven to work with the software.
2005-11-07	Added list of currently supported Powershot cameras to What kind of camera should I buy?
2005-11-07	In When do we send the images and how many do we submit? Added information about submitting tests to VSP.
2005-11-07	Added information to Can I send images from my mugshot image or records/jail management system? regarding options.
2005-11-08	Added the We have Live Scan. What do we need to do to submit mugshots? section, moving the 'submitting tests to VSP' information referenced above to the new section.
2005-11-09	Added the Which agencies are submitting mugshots? section.
2005-11-15	Added step-by-step purchasing instructions and more information about ordering installation to We have Live Scan. What do we need to do to submit mugshots?
2005-11-15	Added new section: How can we view the mugshots we send to VSP?
2005-12-13	Updated We have Live Scan. What do we need to do to submit mugshots? substantially.
2005-12-13	Updated What kind of camera should I buy? to indicate that ID Networks does not provide maintenance for Canon Powershot (consumable) cameras.
2005-12-21	Edited How do I submit images with ink cards (for adults or juveniles)? to include a link to Live Scan Forms.
2005-12-22	Added link to sample images to What standards should our agency follow for the submission of images?
2006-01-06	Updated agency list: Which agencies are submitting mugshots?
2006-02-17	In What standards should our agency follow for the submission of images? Added the paint formula for "18% gray" background.
2006-02-21	In What standards should our agency follow for the submission of images? Added another paint formula for "18% gray" background.
2006-09-14	In What standards should our agency follow for the submission of images? Removed reference to NIST Best Practices, added link to VSP Person Image Requirements and Standards and added lighting recommendations.
2007-04-04	Updated agency list to show agencies not submitting mugshots; updated We have Live Scan. What do we need to do to submit mugshots? section to reflect current status. Added Do we have access to the images at VSP? section, removed "How can we view the mugshots we send to VSP?" section .
2008-01-15	Edited "Do we have access to the images at VSP?" section to be What is CCIS?. Added How do we access the images at VSP? section, edited contact section, edited How do I submit images with ink cards (for adults or juveniles)? section, edited Is this effort being funded in any way? section.
2010-06-18	Fixed broken links, removed old information and clarified Canon camera support.

 

  

 

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