ABIS for Criminal Investigations
API documentation for this solution requires portal access. Contact sales@innovatrics.com to request credentials. Once logged in, you can access the full API reference and interactive Swagger explorer at cabis.innovatrics.com.
Innovatrics ABIS for Criminal Investigations is a multimodal biometric identification system designed for law enforcement agencies and forensic institutions. It combines fingerprint (ten-print and latent), facial, iris, and palm recognition into a single platform — covering the full workflow from crime scene evidence collection through case management and cross-database identification.
What it does
The solution supports the complete criminal investigation lifecycle:
- Latent fingerprint identification — automated minutiae detection with a built-in latent fingerprint editor, ridge highlighting, and side-by-side probe/candidate comparison for examiner verification
- Ten-print identification — enrollment and 1:N search against criminal and civil databases
- Facial recognition — 1:N face identification including real-time face-in-video investigation for surveillance footage analysis; algorithms consistently top-ranked in NIST FRTE 1:1 and NIST FRTE 1:N evaluations
- Iris recognition — high-assurance identity verification as an additional modality; contactless capture using deep learning-based feature extraction; one of the lowest false match rates of any biometric modality; patterns remain stable throughout a person's lifetime
- Palm print identification — latent and rolled palmprint capture and 1:N matching against criminal databases, including latent palmprints lifted from crime scenes; independently benchmarked under NIST ELFT
- Contactless palm recognition — non-invasive palm capture using standard cameras for live subjects; no specialized hardware; video injection detection prevents spoofing; unaffected by temperature or health conditions; supports 1:N identification against enrolled records
- SMT (Scars, Marks, and Tattoos) — recording and searching physical descriptors alongside biometric data
- Age estimation — estimates apparent age from facial images sourced from surveillance footage, crime scene photos, or enrollment records; supports suspect and victim profiling; algorithms trained to provide unbiased estimations across demographics and independently evaluated under NIST FATE AEV
- DNA integration — linking biometric records to DNA profiles within case records
- Case management — centralized case records with automatic cross-case connection detection, supporting legal framework and forensic methodology compliance
Deployment options
- On-premise (agency-hosted infrastructure)
- Cloud-based deployment
- Web browser access throughout — no thick client required for operators
- Android mobile support for field enrollment and operations
- Standard PC hardware compatible; hardware-agnostic and scalable
Integration approach
The solution exposes its core biometric matching and identity management functions via the Innovatrics ABIS API. The API follows REST conventions, is described using OpenAPI Specification 3.0 (OAS 3.0), and uses OAuth for authentication.
Key integration touchpoints:
- Criminal ABIS API — documentation is hosted at cabis.innovatrics.com and requires a login — contact sales@innovatrics.com to request access. Once logged in, you can access:
- API documentation — full reference docs
- Swagger API documentation — interactive API explorer
- Scanner interoperability — compatible with multiple biometric scanner vendors; no single-vendor lock-in
- Multi-gallery support — separate criminal, civil, and watchlist databases manageable within a single deployment
- Legacy data migration — import/export tooling for migrating records from existing AFIS/ABIS systems
Standards and certifications
Innovatrics biometric algorithms are independently benchmarked by NIST, with biometric algorithms ranking among top performers since 2004:
| Modality | Benchmark |
|---|---|
| Latent fingerprint & palm print | NIST ELFT — evaluation of latent fingerprint identification technology |
| Fingerprint 1:N | NIST FRIF TE E1N — evaluation of exemplar one-to-many fingerprint identification algorithms |
| Fingerprint feature extraction | NIST PFT III — evaluation of proprietary fingerprint feature extraction algorithms |
| Fingerprint 1:1 interoperability | NIST MINEX III — evaluation of minutiae-based fingerprint template interoperability |
| Iris recognition | NIST IREX 10 — evaluation of iris recognition algorithms |
| Face recognition 1:N | NIST FRTE 1:N — ongoing evaluation of one-to-many face identification algorithm accuracy and speed across large datasets with varied image quality, pose, and demographics |
| Face recognition 1:1 | NIST FRTE 1:1 — ongoing evaluation of one-to-one face verification algorithm accuracy and speed across large datasets with varied image quality, pose, and demographics |
| Age estimation | NIST FATE AEV — evaluation of automated age estimation from facial images |
| Face image quality | ICAO TR Portrait Quality — face image quality requirements for biometric travel documents |
| Face image interchange | ISO/IEC 19794-5:2011 — international standard for biometric face image data interchange |
Innovatrics face recognition algorithms are trained and validated on demographically diverse datasets. NIST FRTE independently documents demographic differentials, enabling integrators to evaluate performance across population groups for regulated or high-stakes deployments.
Integration support
Innovatrics provides hands-on support throughout the integration lifecycle:
- Comprehensive training covering integration, operation, API usage, and maintenance
- On-site integration and data migration assistance
- On-site engineering supervision for critical infrastructure go-live
- 20+ years of deployment experience across global law enforcement and civil identity markets
Proven deployments
Brazil — Multi-Gallery ABIS for Civil and Criminal Identification
Multi-gallery ABIS deployed across three Brazilian states (Maranhão, Espírito Santo, and Piauí) for both civil ID issuance and criminal investigation, in partnership with Valid. Covers fingerprint, palmprint, and facial recognition with 1:1 and 1:N matching. Includes a latent fingerprint editor, criminal case management, and deduplication to eliminate duplicate records. Features a custom fingerprint algorithm for child identification to support anti-trafficking efforts. Issues 180,000+ IDs monthly. Designed to enable future national-level record synchronization.
Indonesia — 180 Million Record ABIS for Police Field Operations
Centralized ABIS for the Indonesian National Police (INAFIS) covering 180 million biometric records across 3,000 field stations on 17,000 islands. Supports fingerprint, face, iris, and palmprint matching with a latent print editor, criminal case management, and biometric audit capabilities. Optimized for low-bandwidth connectivity across remote locations. Reduced infrastructure from 140 servers to 60 servers. Average database search time of 5 seconds. Accelerated disaster victim identification from weeks to days. Successfully used for terrorist identification.
Guinea — Digitalization of Police Investigation
Multimodal ABIS deployed for the National Police of Guinea (La police technique et scientifique) in Conakry, supporting fingerprint, palmprint, and facial recognition from photos and video. Digitized 7,500 existing paper fingerprint cards and added 5,000 new criminal records within the first month of operation. Reduced suspect identification time from hours to seconds. Includes a side-by-side adjudication tool with annotation features, criminal case management for cross-scene evidence linking and court exhibit creation, and automated match alerts for open cases.
See also
- High Level Overview — licensed modules and feature breakdown
- Architecture — platform layer, ABIS backend, and deployment topology
- Case Management — ACE-V workflow, evidence types, and investigation tooling
Innovatrics Academy
Innovatrics Academy offers online training courses covering integration, configuration, and operation of Innovatrics solutions. Some courses are publicly available at no cost; others are available upon request through your Innovatrics sales contact, including courses not listed in the public catalogue.
License Agreement
Use of this solution is subject to the Innovatrics License Agreement.