Tenprint Fingerprint Certification Tenprint Fingerprint Card Processing & Documentation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which FBI form number is used for the standard civilian fingerprint card in the United States?
- FD-249
- FD-258 (Correct answer)
- FD-353
- SF-87
Correct answer: FD-258
The FD-258 is the standard FBI applicant fingerprint card used for civilian criminal history checks.
Question 2: When completing the 'Reason Fingerprinted' field on a tenprint card, what is the MOST important requirement?
- Use only approved ORI codes
- Match the exact statutory authority or agency code requiring the prints (Correct answer)
- Write the subject's employer name
- Leave blank if unknown
Correct answer: Match the exact statutory authority or agency code requiring the prints
The 'Reason Fingerprinted' field must reflect the exact statutory or regulatory authority authorizing the fingerprint submission.
Question 3: An FD-258 card has smeared ink across three finger blocks. What is the correct course of action?
- Submit the card and note the smears in remarks
- Reprint only the affected fingers on a new card and attach
- Discard the card and reprint all ten fingers on a new card (Correct answer)
- Submit electronically in place of the paper card
Correct answer: Discard the card and reprint all ten fingers on a new card
A card with smeared impressions must be reprinted in its entirety; partial cards are not accepted as primary submissions.
Question 4: What maximum ink density is acceptable on a rolled tenprint impression to avoid obscuring ridge detail?
- The ridges must be fully black with no background
- Ridges should appear dark but furrows (valleys) must remain white or near-white (Correct answer)
- A light gray tone across the entire impression is preferred
- Ink density does not affect acceptance
Correct answer: Ridges should appear dark but furrows (valleys) must remain white or near-white
Proper inking leaves ridges dark while furrows remain clear, allowing individual ridge paths to be traced.
Question 5: The 'Aliases' field on a tenprint card should contain which of the following?
- Only legal name changes documented by court order
- All names, nicknames, and prior names the subject has used (Correct answer)
- The subject's maiden name only
- Social media usernames
Correct answer: All names, nicknames, and prior names the subject has used
All known aliases help examiners link records and reduce false non-matches in criminal history databases.
Question 6: Which field on a tenprint card captures the arresting or submitting agency's unique identifier for CJIS routing?
- SID number
- ORI (Originating Agency Identifier) (Correct answer)
- UCR code
- NCIC transaction number
Correct answer: ORI (Originating Agency Identifier)
The ORI is a nine-character alphanumeric code assigned by the FBI to uniquely identify each contributing agency.
Question 7: A subject refuses to provide their Social Security Number on the fingerprint card. What should the recorder do?
- Refuse to process the fingerprints
- Leave the SSN field blank and note the refusal, if applicable law permits (Correct answer)
- Estimate an SSN based on state of birth
- Enter all zeros in the SSN field
Correct answer: Leave the SSN field blank and note the refusal, if applicable law permits
SSN provision is often voluntary for civilians; the field may be left blank with a refusal note when law does not mandate it.
Tenprint Fingerprint Certification Tenprint Fingerprint Card Processing & Documentation 2
Which FBI form number is used for the standard civilian fingerprint card in the United States?