FINGERPRINT PROCESSING TECHNICIAN 1
Career Family: FINGERPRINT PROCESSING TECHNICIAN
Fingerprint Processing Technician 1 is a state or local title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
On pay it sits at the foot of the Fingerprint Processing Technician ladder. One promotion up is Fingerprint Processing Technician 2, whose band tops out about $6,730 higher. The main requirement is 1 year of relevant experience. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $48,807 to $70,641, and state payroll currently lists 3 people in the title, most of them at Law and Public Safety.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Fingerprint Processing Technician 1 appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Law & Public Safety.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Law & Public Safety | 3 |
Where this title is used
Fingerprint Processing Technician 1 is a common title, so it is used in both State and local service. The local side is filled by the counties, municipalities, authorities and other employers that have adopted civil service under Title 11A, which set their own pay by ordinance or contract rather than from a State salary schedule.
Check whether an employer is a civil service jurisdiction · How local civil service works
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Pay ladder: Fingerprint Processing Technician series
- Fingerprint Processing Technician 1 — $48,807 – $70,641 (this title)
- Fingerprint Processing Technician 2 — $53,282 – $77,371
Promoting to Fingerprint Processing Technician 2 raises the top of the band by about $6,730. Its top salary lands around the 13th percentile of all NJ civil service titles that publish a range.
Rungs are ordered by FY 2027 pay. NJ level numbers are not always sequential, so ordering follows salary rather than the title number.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 3 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $49,266. The agencies employing the most are:
- Law and Public Safety (3)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under the general direction of a Fingerprint Processing Technician 2, Assistant Supervisor or the Supervisor, Fingerprint Technical Unit, in the Bureau of the Records and Identification Section, Division of the State Police, Department of Law and Public Safety, performs the complex work involved in the identification of persons through the use of fingerprints; does other related work.
Examples of work
- Conducts classroom training programs and instruction on basic identification, application and process of the Henry System with extensions interfaced with the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) for fingerprint classification given to all state, county and municipal law enforcement entities.
- Conducts ten-print processing and subject identification through the operation of a full-functional Automated Fingerprint Identification System.
- Accepts submitted latent fingerprint evidence received from law enforcement agencies. Prepares physical inventory of all evidence and compares to submission forms, maintains evidence logs, assigns evidence numbers, and ensures continuity, possession, presentation and accountability of evidence.
- Schedules appointments from contributing law enforcement agencies.
- Retrieves transmitted records and reviews information from the Fully Integrated Fingerprint Identification System (FIFIS) Live Scan and contacts the contributing agency if necessary.
- Assigns pattern types to the transmitted fingerprints.
- Conducts a search utilizing the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) master name database and/or the AFIS database.
- Modifies the computer-generated minutia to more accurately locate, and generates a search.
- Electronically transmits the arrest information into individuals' permanent criminal history records.
- Monitors the multiple subsystems and troubleshoots systems.
- Interacts with the technical support personnel to maintain proper operations of the systems.
- Maintains and records statistical data of the Live Scan incoming fingerprints and generates a report.
- Trains and provides supervision to fingerprint operators in all phases of their work assignments.
- Provides training to new fingerprint operators on the Automated Fingerprint Identification System database workstation on the technical software applications and operational modes in compliance with operating policy guidelines and procedures.
- Verifies fingerprints by utilizing master file prints and/or criminal history jackets.
- Conducts searches of latent fingerprint evidence obtained from law enforcement agencies in comparison with the master fingerprint database depositories through entry on an Automated Fingerprint Identification fingerprint workstation.
- Determines suspect identification through the comparison of side- by-side images of latent and partial fingerprints and file print displayed on a computer screen that match ten-print fingerprint history files.
- May be required to testify in a court of law on the findings and process of fingerprint identification.
- Classifies fingerprints as to pattern type according to the Henry and AFIS systems. Confirms the determination of unusual or questionable pattern types and prepares reports as necessary.
- Assists in the administrative duties of the sub-unit and may perform the functions of a Fingerprint Processing Technician 2 in their absence.
- Maintains confidential and essential files and records.
- Will be required to instruct others to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recordings and computerized information systems and software applications used by the agency, office or related units.
Education
Successful completion of the training courses in the Henry System with extensions interfaced with the Automated Fingerprint Information System (AFIS) of fingerprint classification and identification practices.
Successful completion of the training courses of the applications and concepts of the Fully Integrated Fingerprint Identification System (FIFIS) Live Scan workstation operations for fingerprint classification and identification.
Experience
Two (2) years of experience in the independent identification, classification, filing and research of fingerprints using the Henry System with extensions interfaced with the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) and one (1) year of experience in the operation of the Fully Integrated Fingerprint Identification System (FIFIS) Live Scan workstation operation in fingerprint classification and identification.
License
Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of the Henry System with extensions and the AFIS System of fingerprint classification and identification.
- Knowledge of the type and scope of records to be kept and the proper methods of posting information
- Knowledge of the use of machines and systems to search for fingerprints and the preparation of tabulating cards for this use.
- Knowledge of the methods used to determine whether the correctness of the classification of fingerprints is correct and the search is complete.
- Knowledge of the Fully Integrated Fingerprint Identification System Live Scan operation functions and monitor systems for malfunctions.
- Ability to classify fingerprints according to the Henry System with extensions and to supervise the filing of prints.
- Ability to perform the posting and records duties involved in fingerprint identification work, including the preparation of tabulating cards used for the machine searching of fingerprints.
- Ability to check the classifications of fingerprints made by others for completeness and accuracy of the searches.
- Ability to determine inadequate classifications when prints make identification difficult or non-matchable.
- Ability to determine proper alphanumeric data from fingerprint cards.
- Ability to conduct quality control efforts through the determination of valid minutia points and the editing of such on a computer screen utilizing software editing techniques.
- Ability to examine, preserve, enhance and interpret latent fingerprints obtained from crime scenes, which may be partial and/or smudged, through the use of computerized enhancement applications and procedures.
- Ability to determine proper database archiving to ensure accurate master database and depositories retrieval.
- Ability to train and instruct other operators on the Automated Fingerprint Identification System workstation operation.
- Ability to work harmoniously with other members of the subunits.
- Ability to access Live Scans of fingerprints from various government sources and depositories throughout the country and from international sources.
- Ability to conduct classroom-training programs on the application, process and procedures of the Henry System with extensions and the AFIS System for identification fingerprints classification.
- Ability to prepare reports of identifications.
- Ability to determine difficult identifications, especially with latent or partial fingerprints, using side-by-side comparison of images displayed on a computer screen.
- Ability to analyze encountered work problems and develop effective work methods.
- Ability to maintain evidence files and ten-print master fingerprint files to prevent loss, misfiling or deletion.
- Ability to understand written and oral instructions and communicate them to others and adhere to office policies and procedures.
- Ability to analyze identification problems, organize assigned work and develop effective work methods.
- Ability to locate, process and review fingerprint cards that have been misplaced or misclassified to ensure the accuracy of identification in the master file records.
- Ability to maintain confidential and essential records and files.
- Ability to testify in courts of law as a State witness.
- Ability to learn and instruct others to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recordings and computerized information systems and software applications used by the agency, office or related units.
- Ability to follow the procedures of the Sorting Table which includes reviewing completed work, preparing it for the distribution to its proper unit and keeping accurate count of that work.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of the position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
- CODES: 15/A14 - MCK 8/25/01
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.