WHEREAS, during the past twenty years, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has witnessed some of the greatest technological advances of the 20th century; and

WHEREAS, these technologies include Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems, DNA, the Internet and Intranets with web-based applications, middle-ware technology that allows the linking of existing systems into virtual systems, the electronic sharing of digitized images, to name a few; and

WHEREAS, the IACP recognizes that these systems are costly and require technical resources to pursue, acquire and support the utilization of current and new technologies; and

WHEREAS, the IACP also recognizes that utilization of these technologies and new technologies that will be developed in the 21st century will be a major key in the successful prevention and resolution of crime; recovery of stolen property and missing persons; and the identification, apprehensions and prosecution of criminals; now therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the IACP will encourage and assist local agencies in the acquisition of funding and resources to promote the development of integrated criminal justice systems; implementation of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems that allow sharing of fingerprint minutia, instantaneous identification of criminals, and electronic compilation of criminal history data; development and implementation of standardized data element definitions that allow for the electronic exchange of criminal justice information; advancement of Internet and Intranet technologies and web-based applications that reduce the cost of accessing and transporting information over networks; development and implementation of middle-ware that will unite independent systems into virtual systems that will enable instantaneous sharing of information and elimination of duplicate entry of data; utilization of digitized images and the effective sharing of such images, acquisition of mobile digital technologies that enable law enforcement officers to have instantaneous, electronic access to information, and identification and utilization of other new and innovative technologies that will assist in the prevention and resolution of crime, recovery of stolen property and missing persons, and the identification, apprehension and prosecution of criminals.