FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN II

City of Chicago Department of Law; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Chicago Police Department’s Record Services division seeks a Fingerprint Technician II to operate within the Henry classification system, examine fingerprint impressions, and determine matches for criminal history background checks.

You will conduct AFIS searches, verify accuracy, and support the employment background process for city agencies. The role requires attention to detail, ability to handle sensitive information, and willingness to work evening shifts.

Qualifications

• One year of fingerprint technician work experience involving file searching and examining of fingerprints for positive identification using the Henry classification system.
• Familiarity with the Henry classification system and biometric fingerprint identification.
• Ability to use automated fingerprint identification systems (AFIS) for database searches.

Responsibilities

• Receives fingerprint impressions and examines for matches against police records.
• Performs fingerprint identification using Henry classification.
• Conducts AFIS searches and compares ridge patterns for identification.
• Ensures impressions are legible and orders retakes when needed.
• Participates in background investigations as part of city employment processes.

Skills

Fingerprint identification

File searching

AFIS usage

Tools

AFIS

Job description

FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN II

Job Number:

420382

Job Description

CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT

Record Services Division

Number of Positions: 1

This position is open to current AFSCME BIDDERS AND the PUBLIC. Only current City employees covered under the City’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) – BARGAINING UNIT 1, 3, 4, & 5 are considered BIDDERS and eligible to bid. Qualified BIDDERS who properly submit a bid application will receive preference over any non-bidders.

1. Check the box on your profile titled “Currently employed by the City of Chicago”

2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled ‘payee/employee number’)

3. Select your correct bargaining unit

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION.

Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59 pm Central time on 10/13/2026.

Under general supervision, the class performs at the fully functional level, using the Henry classification system of fingerprint pattern identification to examine and match sets of fingerprint impressions as part of criminal history background investigations, and performs related duties as required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Receives fingerprint impressions of arrestees and examines and compares with police criminal history and arrest records
• Conducts fingerprint identification of arrestees by applying the principles of the Henry classification system of fingerprint pattern identification
• Conducts comparative evaluation of fingerprint impressions by examining the patterns of friction skin ridges and comparing between ridge events of separate sets of fingerprint images to find identification matches
• Conducts computerized database searches by entering search criteria into an electronically stored Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS)
• Compares and evaluates positive fingerprint matches ensuring that any discrepancies are adequately explained and/or justified
• Ensures that arrest identification numbers are assigned via computer to establish police records for first time offenders
• Visually examines ink fingerprint impressions for comparison with ink and scanned police arrest reports
• Verifies that submitted fingerprint impressions are legible and orders the impressions to be retaken when they are unacceptable
• Makes positive fingerprint identification based on similarities to the criteria and comparable fingerprint impressions that are registered and maintained in the police AFIS database system
• Evaluates fingerprints as part of the city employment background investigation process for the Department of Human Resources

Additional duties may be required for this position.

DEPARTMENT: Chicago Police

DIVISION: Record Services

ADDRESS: 3510 S Michigan Ave – Public Safety Headquarters

HOURS: 3:30 pm – 11:30pm or 11:30 pm – 7:30 am

SHIFT: Rotating days off

THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• One year of fingerprint technician work experience involving file searching and examining of fingerprints for positive identification using the Henry classification system of fingerprint analysis.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Some lifting (up to 10 lbs.) is required

SELECTION REQUIREMENTS

This position requires applicants to complete an interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position will be selected. Selected Bidders will be hired in seniority order according to the collective bargaining agreement.

Preference will be given to candidates possessing the following:

• Previous knowledge of biometric fingerprint identification systems
• Previous experience with a criminal justice database
• Experience conducting file search and fingerprint classifications

For Information on our employees benefits please visit our benefits website at:

For Information on our salary and title structure visit our classifications website at:

APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow any and all required Employment/Hiring Plan provisions, federal, state and local laws, and Collective Bargaining Agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:

To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience the City of Chicago has adopted the following ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces, and/or residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA) and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates to be referred to departments for consideration. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders, as Collective Bargaining Agreements define the hiring process for bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates.

ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.

The City of Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.

City of Chicago

Job Posting

Sep 28, 2026, 5:00:00 AM | Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External : Oct 14, 2026, 4:59:00 AM