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CCRTIS Report - Volume 1, Issue 4 - April 2010
Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services Newsletter
Identity Verification Standards
Verifying an individual's identity is a common undertaking that is exercised for various government programs and services. From applying for a Canadian passport, to obtaining a driver's license, to - yes, undergoing a criminal records check, government departments aim to authenticate the identity of the individual requesting the public service.
Strengthening identity verification procedures and in turn combating identity theft is an important issue at all levels of government. The Government of Canada has undertaken a variety of initiatives and legislative reform measures to address issues surrounding identity. In January 2010, Bill S-4 was given Royal Assent, making it illegal to posses another person's identity information for criminal purposes.
The Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) has recently taken part in activities that intend to enhance identity verification procedures in support of criminal record checks. As part of the recent Dissemination of Criminal Record Information Policy Working Group (related article on page 3), CCRTIS and other Working Group members assessed current practices in Canada regarding criminal record name checks. Similar procedures also apply to individuals that undergo fingerprint-based criminal record verifications. Currently, applicants undergoing a criminal records check against the CCRTIS national repository of fingerprints and criminal record information should provide the authorized agency with two (2) pieces of valid identification, one of which must be government-issued and include the applicant's name, date of birth, signature, and photo. For more information, contact CCRTIS at: CCRTIS-SCICTR@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Did you know:
More than 10 Canadian federal departments have been certified by the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) to submit electronic fingerprints for federal government employee screening purposes.
This means that more federal clients are benefiting from the optimal search accuracy and efficiency of the Real Time Identification (RTID) system and are receiving clear records in three business days or less.
RTID Improves Security Screening for Canada's National Cryptologic Agency
With the construction of a new state-of-the-art facility about to begin, the Communications Security Establishment Canada (CSEC) is looking forward to putting its Real Time Identification (RTID) system to the test.
Dan Cameron, CSEC Manager of Personnel Security Services
CSEC Security Manager, Dan Cameron says hundreds of construction workers will be electronically screened with RTID technology before shovels hit the ground to build a new 6000 m2 building followed by a 72,000 m2 building in Ottawa's east end, beginning in the Spring of 2010. CSEC's workforce has increased significantly over the past decade and utility demands have also risen. As a result, CSEC's current campus, located in Ottawa's Confederation Heights region, is no longer able to adequately support the agency's day-to-day operations.
By accessing the RTID system, CSEC will be one of several Canadian federal departments to benefit from the optimal search accuracy and efficiency of RTID. In particular, CSEC will electronically receive clear records in three business days or considerably less time.
"RTID is going to be especially valuable during the new building project in fingerprinting electronically all construction workers that are cleared to be on-site," said Cameron, who noted that CSEC procured four RTID workstations, including both LiveScan and CardScan devices.
Two of CSEC's RTID workstations are portable. "It's great to have the versatility of being able to take it offsite if you are fingerprinting a number of candidates at one location," said Cameron.
CSEC is Canada's national cryptologic agency. It provides the Government of Canada with two key services: foreign signals intelligence in support of defence and foreign policy and the protection of the government's electronic information and communications.
Most of CSEC's workforce is located in Ottawa and includes engineers, computer scientists, programmer-developers, physicists, mathematicians as well as language specialists and intelligence analysts.
In December 2009, CSEC became certified to access the RTID system for federal employee screening purposes. Cameron advises other government departments to work closely with their Information Technology (IT) office.
"They should have an IT savvy person assigned to guide RTID through the testing and certification process," added Cameron.
Cameron said he and his employees were surprised by the rapid response time in processing applicants' fingerprints. "In my 39 years with the Federal government, it's the first piece of technology provided to me at work that truly amazed me," he said. "Within five minutes the fingerprints you electronically submitted are run through the RCMP national fingerprint data base and you get a result. It's amazing really." Under the old paper-based system, responses could take upwards of four months, said Cameron.
He also identified that the automation of RTID criminal records processing is still under development: "Even with RTID, if there is a hit you have to wait a month or more for the certified criminal record to be mailed out." Cameron recalled the early years of fingerprinting with black ink rolled carefully on glass: "Now we have come full circle, back to rolling prints on glass - but inkless and electronically with fast high speed Internet."
Non-Compliant Submissions
The Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) is committed to providing law enforcement agencies with valuable criminal submission processing. The accuracy of information contained in the CCRTIS national repository of fingerprints and criminal records has a direct impact on clients as well as on the accuracy and timeliness of criminal record information that is made available to Canadian police services via the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC).
CCRTIS currently follows up with authorized contributors to clarify a significant number of criminal documents that are incomplete and/or contain inaccuracies. In an effort to streamline and improve efficiencies of criminal submission processing, CCRTIS will be issuing Communiqués to authorized contributors on the compliancy requirements for both paper-based and/or electronic criminal submissions.
In this regard, please confirm your agency's contact information with CCRTIS. Contact information includes your agency's business section, contact title, name, phone number, fax number, and email address. Please send this information by email to CCRTIS-SCICTR@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Should you require additional information regarding this issue, you may write to CCRTIS at the above-noted email address, clearly indicating "Communiqué" in the subject field.
Electronic Civil Fingerprinting on the Rise
Over the course of 2008-2009, the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services (CCRTIS) received more electronic civil fingerprint submissions and less paper-based submissions. From 2008-2009, electronic civil fingerprint submissions rose from approximately 71, 000 to 123,000 -- an increase of 73%. What does this mean? More CCRTIS clients are benefiting from the response times associated with electronic fingerprint submissions!
Release of Criminal Records: Working Group Established
The Dissemination of Criminal Record Information Policy Working Group aims to develop uniform practices at all levels of government regarding the release of criminal records.
Representatives from Canadian police services, federal and provincial ministries of public safety and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada recently gathered to develop uniform practices regarding the release of criminal record information.
The newly created Dissemination of Criminal Record Information Policy Working Group was established as a response to breaches of Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) policies, federal legislation and Ministerial Directives regarding the release of criminal records.
The Working Group held its first conference in Ottawa from January 19-21, 2010.
The Working Group discussed a range of topics concerning criminal record information. Topics included: common definitions for various types of criminal record checks; informed consent and identity verification requirements; and the role of private organizations, such as background screening companies and accredited fingerprint service providers, for conducting criminal record checks.
Guylaine Dansereau, CCRTIS Director General, recognizes the importance of having a strong cross-section of representatives discuss criminal records management:
"It is a complex subject, and one that requires input from all levels of government as well as other sectors," says Dansereau.
Doug Carnegie is a Senior Advisor with the Interoperability Policy Division at Public Safety Canada. He says Interoperability within Public Safety will ensure that agencies and government organizations can share the right information at the right time to keep Canadians safe. "Since criminal records are managed by a variety of agencies and jurisdictions, there are variances in procedures and terminology which can be confusing," said Carnegie. "This working group helps alleviate some of that confusion and will better inform those involved. A collaborative effort ensures that consistent National standards can be applied for all Canadians."
As stewards of the national repository of fingerprints and criminal record information, the RCMP will review all Working Group recommendations for approval, and will consult with vested interest parties as required. Several of the recommendations involve reviewing existing legislation, regulations and Ministerial Directives concerning the release of criminal record information.
Editorial
The CCRTIS Report is a newsletter designed to inform current and prospective clients of the Canadian Criminal Real Time Identification Services.
The CCRTIS Report will be issued quarterly and will include updates on: business processes; interagency partnerships; certification activities; Real Time Identification (RTID) release information, migration activities and Phase 2 requirements; and other important information stemming from CCRTIS.Contact us
RCMP
National Police Services
Building
1200 Vanier Parkway
Ottawa Ontario K1A 0R2
CCRTIS-SCICTR@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
