This live scan fingerprint scanning process captures your palm and then digitally scans it, making it available in a matter of few seconds. Police agencies use this technique for easier identification. The information provided on them - fingerprints - are then used by the criminal investigations officer to see if they match with any prints that have been found at crime scenes. Officers can also crosscheck their scanner with national repositories, such as the Automated Fingerprint Identification System or AFIS. These databases store millions of sets of finger and thumbprints as well as mugshots in hopes of finding a match for them.