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Date: |
October 27, 2026 |
02 |
Title
Sheriff - Authorize a Competitive Solicitation for an Automated Biometric Identification System and Establish Appropriations (Districts: All)
End
Overview
The California Identification System/Remote Access Network (Cal-ID/RAN) provides statewide connectivity that enables local law enforcement agencies to access automated fingerprint, palm print, and photo databases at the local, state, and federal levels. This system supports rapid identification of individuals booked into detention facilities and latent prints recovered from crime scenes. As San Diego County’s Cal-ID/RAN administrator, the San Diego Sheriff’s Office (Sheriff’s Office) is responsible for ensuring the reliability and modernization of this critical capability.
San Diego County’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS), implemented in December 2011, has effectively supported law enforcement identification operations but has become obsolete and requires replacement. On April 8, 2025 (4), the Board authorized the Sheriff’s Office to develop a competitive solicitation for a replacement AFIS system. However, during solicitation planning, staff identified substantial advancements in biometric technology and statewide modernization trends toward Automated Biometric Identification Systems (ABIS). ABIS platforms provide a modern, scalable framework centered on fingerprint and palm print identification, with the flexibility to accommodate additional biometric modalities if future policy, technology, or operational needs warrant their use. Transitioning to an ABIS platform ensures continued compatibility with Department of Justice systems and aligns San Diego County with jurisdictions pursuing updated biometric identification capabilities.
Today’s actions request the Board’s authorization to issue a competitive solicitation for an Automated Biometric Identification System and establish appropriations of $5,000,000 for the purchase and implementation of ABIS based on prior year available fund balance from the Sheriff Fingerprint ID Trust Fund.
Body
Recommendation by Sheriff:
1) In accordance with Section 401, Article XXIII of the County Administrative Code authorize the Director of the Department of Purchasing and Contracting to issue a competitive solicitation for an Automated Biometric Identification System, and upon successful negotiations and determination of a fair and reasonable price, award a contract for an initial term of five years, with five one-year option periods, and an additional six-month extension, if needed, and to amend the contract as needed to reflect changes to service requirements and funding, subject to approval of the Sheriff.
2) Establish appropriations of $5,000,000, in the San Diego Sheriff’s Office, Capital Assets Equipment, for the purchase and implementation of an Automated Biometric Identification System, based on prior year available Sheriff Fingerprint ID Trust Fund fund balance. (4 VOTES)
End
Equity Impact Statement
Accurate and timely identification is essential to ensuring accountability within the criminal justice system and supporting justice and healing for victims. Implementing an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) strengthens equity within the criminal justice system by improving accuracy, reducing the risk of misidentification, and ensuring investigative efforts focus on individuals whose biometrics correspond to the evidence. These improvements support a fair, consistent, and evidence-based process that promotes offender accountability and advances justice for victims. An ABIS enhances identification capabilities by providing a unified, modern platform that supports core fingerprint and palm print functions, with the flexibility to incorporate additional biometric modalities if future policy or operational needs warrant their use. This enables examiners and investigators to develop reliable associations to evidence recovered from crime scenes, identify potential suspects, and exonerate individuals who are not connected to the evidence. ABIS’s increased accuracy minimizes the risk of unnecessary detentions resulting from misidentifications.
Sustainability Impact Statement
The proposed actions to authorize a competitive solicitation for an Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) supports the County’s Sustainability Goal of providing just and equitable access to services. Overall, the transition to an ABIS platform has the potential to improve fairness and reliability in identity verification processes that significantly affect individuals impacted by systemic inequities. Supporting the proposed actions maximize equitable outcomes. Enhanced search capabilities enable timely and accurate identification through regional, state, and federal databases. A modern ABIS reduces reliance on aging infrastructure, strengthens regional interoperability, and supports evidence-based practices that enhance public safety. These improvements benefit the region by increasing the effectiveness of suspect identification and investigative processes while ensuring equitable and consistent access to identification technologies across communities.
Fiscal Impact
Funds for recommendation #2, are not included in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Operational Plan for the Sheriff’s Office. If approved, this request will result in increased costs and revenue of approximately $5,000,000 for the initial purchase and implementation of the Automated Biometric Identification System. The funding source is prior year available Sheriff Fingerprint ID Trust Fund fund balance, which is funded by vehicle registration fees. Future annual costs of approximately $1,200,000 for license, customer support, and maintenance will be included in future Operational Plans. The funding source will be the Sheriff’s Fingerprint ID Trust Fund. There will be no change in net General Fund costs and no additional staff years.
Business Impact Statement
N/A
Advisory Board Statement
The San Diego County California Identification System/Remote Access Network (Cal-ID/RAN) Board serves as the regional policy and advisory body responsible for making recommendations to the Board of Supervisors regarding the use of Cal-ID funds. The Cal-ID/RAN Board is comprised of seven members, including a member of the Board of Supervisors, the Sheriff, the District Attorney, two police chiefs, a mayor, and a member-at-large. On December 16, 2024, the Cal-ID/RAN Board authorized the use of Cal-ID revenue to fund the replacement of the Automated Fingerprint Identification System and to utilize a consultant to support the competitive solicitation process. During the development of the solicitation, staff identified statewide and national transitions from AFIS to modern Automated Biometric Identification Systems (ABIS). Since ABIS performs the same core fingerprint and palm print functions approved by the Cal-ID/RAN Board while offering the capacity to support additional modalities if warranted, the Cal-ID/RAN Board’s existing authorization remains applicable.
Background
The California Identification System (Cal-ID) is the statewide platform maintained by the California Department of Justice to store fingerprint files and support the identification of latent fingerprints. The Remote Access Network (RAN) provides the standardized equipment and procedures that allow law enforcement agencies direct, secure access to Cal-ID. This infrastructure allows agencies to conduct timely identification of individuals booked into detention facilities and latent prints linked to criminal investigations.
San Diego County’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System, installed in 2011, is an essential tool for verifying the identity of arrested individuals and comparing unknown crime scene prints against existing records. After more than 14 years of service, the system has reached the end of its operational life and requires replacement.
On April 8, 2025 (4), the Board authorized the Sheriff’s Office to issue a competitive solicitation for a replacement system. During this process, staff identified technological advancements and statewide trends toward Automated Biometric Identification Systems (ABIS). ABIS is an advanced software platform that has the capability to store, manage, and compare biometric data - such as fingerprints, facial images, or iris scans, to identify or verify an individual’s identity. Such platforms provide enhanced accuracy, improved interoperability, and scalability to support future technological needs while maintaining core fingerprint and palm print identification capabilities. While ABIS can support additional biometric modalities, the approved implementation is limited to fingerprints and palm prints. No expansion is planned at this time, but the system retains the capability to enable other modalities should future policy or operational needs require it.
The Sheriff Fingerprint ID Trust Fund, established under Vehicle Code Section 9250.19 and expanded through Assembly Bill 2393, funds the regional Cal-ID program through a fee collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles for each vehicle registered in San Diego County. Assembly Bill 2393 authorized counties to increase this fee from $1 to $2, and on October 5, 2021 (6), the Board adopted Resolution No. 21-156 to implement the increase for a five-year period ending in 2027. On October 6, 2027 (1) the Board adopted a resolution extending the increase through January 1, 2036. The Board’s approval of the fee increase continues to support the modernization of critical Cal-ID systems and network infrastructure, including efforts consistent with an ABIS platform.
Today’s actions also request authorization to issue a competitive solicitation for an ABIS to align San Diego County with emerging best practices in biometric identification and improve interoperability, accuracy, and efficiency in support of public safety.
Linkage To The County Of San Diego Strategic Plan
Today’s proposed actions support the Sustainability, Equity, and Justice Strategic Initiatives of the County of San Diego 2026-2031 Strategic Plan by enhancing the accuracy, consistency, and fairness of the County’s biometric identification capabilities. Implementing a modern Automated Biometric Identification System strengthens the integrity of the criminal justice process by improving the identification of individuals connected to criminal activity, reducing the risk of misidentification, and supporting timely investigative outcomes. These improvements directly advance the Strategic Plan’s objective of ensuring a fair and equitable justice system that provides effective services to victims and contributes to a safer community.
Respectfully submitted,
Kelly A. Martinez
Sheriff
Attachment
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